ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources has summoned the WAPDA chairman in its next meeting to get a briefing about matters and position on the questions raised with reference to transparency in awarding the contract for construction of Mohmand Dam.
The committee met on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Senator Shamim Afridi in Parliament House. The meeting was attended by Senators Mir Muhammad Yousuf Badini, Usman Khan Kakar, Mir Hasil Bazenjo, Pir Sabir Shah, Walid Iqbal, Gian Chand, Quratul Ain Marri, secretary water resources, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) secretary irrigation and Balochistan secretary irrigation.
Giving briefing to the meeting, Balochistan authorities told that the feasibility report and PC-1 of a major project of irrigation in Quetta, Halak Dam, was approved by CDWP and Rs500 million were allocated for it. However, directives were issued to work out the feasibility report and PC-1 of this project again last year. This project has been excluded from the annual development programme.
He told the committee PC-1 of this project is ready which will be sent to CDWP.
The committee has also summoned the ministry of planning and ministry of finance authorities in the next meeting in order to include small dams projects in Balochistan and Halak Dam in the next development project.
Briefing the committee, secretary irrigation said that construction work on Gawalian Dam near Haripur was started in 2013 and 98 per cent work has been completed and the project costing over Rs1.24 billion will be inaugurated in 2019. He told the committee that the dam was aimed at preserving and making rain and flood water useable. However, the dam has not been filled to its capacity due to a shortfall in rains this season.
Pir Sabir Shah said that too much leakage is being made from the dam. What steps have been taken to plug this leakage, he questioned.
The concerned authorities told the committee that leakage will be fully plugged in the next two to five years. However, if more leakage is observed then steps will be taken.
Senator Usman Kakar and Senator Yousuf Badini, while raising questions on the transparency of Mohmand Dam, said that the company which was excluded from pre-qualification process of the contract has been awarded the contract to the tune of Rs309 billion of this dam.
Committee member Senator Walid Iqbal said that complete briefing is given with respect to Mohmand Dam contract so that the situation could become clear. Only lip service will not work, he added. I will be the first person in raising voice against any financial irregularity if it has been committed in awarding of the contract, he further said.
Committee then summoned WAPDA chairman for a briefing on Mohmand Dam contract.