Rs 192.612 billion earmarked for ailing energy sector

Keeping in view the worsening energy crisis, the PPP-led collation government has allocated a total of Rs 192.612 billion for the energy sector in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the year 2012-13.
According to the budget documents issued on Friday, Rs 47,192.279 million have been earmarked for the water sector, Rs 145,152 million have been specified for power sector while Rs 268.086 million have been kept for Petroleum and Natural Resources Division.
Rs 47,192.279m for water sector: According to the PSDP document, Rs 47,192.279 million have been earmarked for the water sector for the year 2012-13 for 78 ongoing and new projects. The government has specified Rs 6,000 million for raising of Mangla Dam, Rs 2,400 million each for Kacchi Canal (Phase-1) and extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain, Rs 2,000 million for Rainee Canal (Phase-1), Rs 500 million for Kurrum Tangi Dam and Rs 2,000 million have been kept for Nai Gaj Dam in the PSDP for 2012-13. Another Rs 700 million have been earmarked for the construction of 100 small dams in Balochistan, Rs 300 million for Satpara Dam, Rs 1,500 million for Naulong Storage Dam, Rs 1,800 million for Gomal Zam Dam, Rs 1,590 million for construction of small storage dams in Sindh, and Rs 2,000 million for Darwat Dam.
Rs 145,152m for power sector: Rs 145,152 million have been earmarked for the ongoing and new projects in the power sector. Of the total allocation, Rs 63,982 million have been specified for 24 hydel projects, Rs 81,155 million for 82 projects of the national transmission and Despatch Company (NDTC) and Rs 15 million for ENERCON.
For hydel projects, Rs 6,030 million have been allocated for the construction of Diamer Basha Dam project Lot 1 to 5 (4500 MW), Rs 7,785 million for the construction of Diamer Basha Dam project land acquisition, Rs 26,806 million for Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project, Rs 7,187 million for Tarbela fourth extension hydel project, Rs 3,859 million for Dubir Khawar Hydro Power project, Rs 2,173 million for Allai Khawar Hyrdro Power project, Rs 1,032 million for Jinnah Hydro Power project and Rs 6,195 million have been allocated for Golan Gol Hydro Power project. Moreover, the government has earmarked Rs 12,460 million for 747 MW (CCPP) Guddu, Rs 2,000 million for 425 NW combined Cycle Nandipur Power plant, Rs 10,500 million for 525 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at Chicho Ki Malian, Rs 1,142 million for transmission arrangements for power dispersal of Ghazi Barotha and Rs 15 million for the National Awareness Campaign on Energy and Environment Protection.
Rs 268.086 million for Petroleum and Natural Resources: The government has allocated a meager Rs 268.086 million for the Petroleum and Natural Resources under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for Year 2012-13. Of the total allocation, Rs 200 million have been earmarked for completion of Petroleum House in the federal capital. The Petroleum House will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 452.44 million whereas Rs 32.68 million and Rs 34.49 million have been earmarked for upgrading and strengthening Geo Sciences Advance Research Laboratories and Accelerated Geological Mapping and Geochemical Exploration of the Out-crop area of Pakistan. Funds have also been allocated under the programme for review/upgrading of the National Mineral Policy.