ISLAMABAD – Earlier, government claimed that it had started work on Bhasha dam and the work will be done soon but budget 2012-13 presents a total opposite picture with allocation of only Rs 7 billion for project.
For water and power projects, government has allocated a total amount of Rs 193 billion approximately but for very important project Basha dam, a meagre amount has been allocated.
The total cost of Basha Dam is stated as Rs 834 billion but total expenditure on the construction work till June 2012 is reported to Rs 3 billion only.
As per details of power sector, government has allocated Rs 145 billion and for the water sector an amount of Rs 47 billion allocated. For the under construction Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, government has allocated Rs 26.8 billion to be spent in 2012-13. An amount of Rs 59.45 has been claimed to be spent on Neelum project till June 2012.
For Guddu Power Project a sum of Rs 12.46 has been allocated in the current budget and Rs 10.5 billion has been allocated for Combined Cycle Power Plant at Chicho ki Malian. The cost of aforesaid projects is Rs 61.44 and Rs 18 billion respectively.
A sum od Rs 7 billion approximately has been allocated for 440 MW CCP project. The plant for the said project is gifted by UAE. Another important project of Interconnection of AES 1,200 MW has been allocated a small amount of Rs 450 million against the total cost of Rs 11.5 billion.
Some other important projects are addition of 500/200 KV substation T/L for strengthening existing NTDC system, Transmission for Dispersal Power from Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project, Import for 100 MW power from Iran (220 KV Grid Station & Allied T/L from Iran to Gwadar and existing of 500/200 KV G/S of NTDC System by installation of additional transformers. Under the head of water sector, government has allocated a total amount of Rs 47 billion. As per details, Mangla Dam raising project has been allocated a sum of Rs 76 billion in the budget 2012-13. A sum of Rs 2.4b, Rs2.4b, Rs2b and Rs 1.5b have been allocated for Kacchi Canal, Extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain from Sehwan to sea, Rainee Canal and Construction of Small Storage and Delay Action Dams respectively.