PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to construct 17 small dams in different districts of the province to cater to the water needs of the agriculture sector, besides provision of clean drinking water and energy to people.
The small dams were approved during a high-level meeting of Provincial Working Development Party (PDWP), under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Dr Shahzad Bangash. Planning and Development Department Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, relevant members and respective administrative secretaries also attended the meeting.
In connection with concept clearance for projects, PDWP approved projects for energy and power sector, including construction of 225 km long 500 KV (HVAC) transmission line, along with two grid stations of 500 KV, construction of 409 MW Torcamp-Godubar HPP, Chitral and construction of 446 MW Kari-MusKhur HPP, Chitral.
The meeting approved rehabilitation and improvement of canal patrol roads, standardisation of all District Headquarters and Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals, standardisation of 200 Higher Secondary schools and establishment of IT laboratories in government high schools in KP.
The forum considered 41 projects pertaining to different sectors, including Law and Justice, Relief and Rehabilitation, Energy and Power, Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, Sports, Agriculture, Forestry, Roads and Bridges, Building, and Urban Development sectors.
So far, the PDWP had approved 29 projects with an estimated cost of Rs 28093.809 million, while 12 projects were deferred due to inadequate design.
Moreover, the forum considered 15 concept clearances pertaining to different sectors, including Energy and Power, Roads and Bridges, Water, Health and Education, and approved 13 concept clearances with an estimated cost of Rs 363390.931 million, while two were deferred.
The approved projects of Law and Justice sector included the construction of Peshawar High Court Bannu Bench, construction of Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Bench, Construction of bachelor hostels for judicial officers in eight districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PC-II approved).
For Relief and Rehabilitation sector, the forum approved revamping of Presidential Emergency Operations Centre and Management Information System (MIS), along with development of MIS for Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), construction of warehouses in districts Kohistan, Chitral and Upper Dir.
The approved projects of Energy and Power sector, included Access to Energy – Construction of micro-hydel power stations (MHP) on Rivers and Tributaries, Construction of MHP on Canals, Solarisation of Schools, and constructing Petroleum Institute of Technical in Karak (PSDP Project).
For Elementary and Secondary Education sector, the PDWP approved school improvement programme in two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Phase-II, provision of stipends to secondary school girls of KP, provision of free text books to all students up to Intermediate level, establishment of Hangu Model School and Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Bar Shingara.
The approved projects of Higher Education sector, included, provision of furniture/library books, development of computer labs for BS Commerce programme, and construction of building for 2nd Commerce College to be constructed in Nowshera. Moreover, the approved project regarding sports, included promotion/holding of sporting competitions in the province.
