Govt spends less on Bunji hydropower project

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The national importance power generation scheme Bunji hydropower project having an installed capacity of 7100 megawatt is going through a miserable situation, as the government spent only Rs 228.404 million in the current fiscal year 2009-10, sources told Daily Times on Friday.

At the advent of the ongoing summer season, the power shortfall reaches about 5000 megawatt, but spending such a meager amount on this vital project makes no sense, the sources maintained. Detailed design and tender documents would have to be completed in August 2010. The PC-II for feasibility study, detailed engineering design and tender document was approved in the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting held on December 14, 2005.

If the Musharaf led PML-Q government had properly pursued and implemented the project, the country would not have confronted such type of electricity and water problems. And if the project was properly pursued, the country would have about 2000 megawatt surplus electricity and there would be no need to go for expensive Rental Power Plants (RPPs).

The dam site area was located on Indus River, with dam and powerhouse 85 and 65 kilometer respectively from Gilgit city and Northern Areas. Official documents available with Daily Times revealed the detailed engineering design, and preparation of tender documents was signed on April 25 2007 between WAPDA and consultants, which was mobilised on May 9 2007. Draft feasibility report on March 31 2009 and comments

were sent to consultants and the consultants resubmitted the report in September 2009.

The sources further claimed that detailed topographic survey at the selected locations of structures has been completed. The suspended sediment samples at Gainji Bridge, Kachura Alam Bridge and Bunji Bridge were being collected and analysed by the International Sedimentation Research Institute of Pakistan (ISRIP), a subsidiary of

Wapda for a period of one year starting from Feb 2009 to Jan 2010. The documents further revealed that the consultants have recommended continuing the sediment sampling at Gainji Bridge.