Power generation schemes: Govt spends Rs 6.8 billion against Rs 53bn allocated

from Daily Times - ISLAMABAD: The government has spent Rs 6.883 billion in the first eight months of the current fiscal year (July to Feb) for 5994 megawatt power generation against the total budget allocation of Rs 53.037 billion, showing only 13 percent spending, official documents available with Daily Times revealed. 

These national importance 7 projects include Diamer Basha Dam having 4500 megawatt power generation capacity, Neelum Jhelum having 969 megawatt and Duber Khwar project with 130 megawatt power generation capacity. Others projects are Allai Khwar with 121 megawatt power generation capacity, Khan Khwar scheme having 72 megawatt, Jinnah Hydropower Project Kalabagh Town District Mianwali with 96 megawatt power generation capacity and Glen Gol hydropower project with the installed capacity of 106 megawatt.

For these 7 projects, the government allocated Rs 53.037 billion in the annual budget 2009-10 but during the first eight months of the fiscal year, only an amount of Rs 6.883 billion was spent, reflecting 13 percent of the total allocations, the documents revealed. Experts said shortages of funds would cause delay in getting cheaper electricity and would escalate cost of these projects.

Diamer-Basha Dam with a total cost of Rs 894.257 billion, after completion it would be able to store 6.4 million acres feet (MAF) of water for agriculture besides generating 4500 megawatt of low-cost hydel electricity. The project has to be completed by 2020-21.

According to the documents, the government earmarked Rs 25.382 billion under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2009-10. But in the first 8 months of the current fiscal year, only Rs 6.883 billion (less than 1 percent spending) were spent on this important project so far, it is learnt.

The Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project with a total cost of Rs 84.502 billion, the government allocated Rs 16 billion in FY 2009-10 for the project, but spent only Rs 3.236 billion in July to February, showing 20 percent spending of the total allocations. The project has to be completed by October 2015. 

While Duber Khwar hydroelectric power project located on Duber Khwar River, right bank tributary of Indus River near Pattan, District Kohistan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa having the generation capacity of 130 megawatt, while the total cost of the project is Rs 16.234 billion, however, the government allocated Rs 4.3 billion in PSDP 2009-10, but only Rs1.264 billion were spent till February 2010. According to the schedule, the project has to be completed by August 2011 but shortage of funds might extend its completion period.

Allai Khwar Hydropower Project located on Allai Khwar River, left bank tributary of Indus River near Besham District Battgram Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with the total cost of Rs 8.577 billion. The government earmarked Rs 3.465 billion in PSDP 2009-10, however, only Rs 787.317 million were spent by February of the current year, reflecting 23 percent of the total allocations.

Khan Khwar hydropower project located on Khan Khwar River, right bank tributary of Indus River near Besham District Shangla with the generation capacity of 72 megawatt, has to be completed by June 2010. The government allocated Rs 1.790 billion in the annual budget 2009-10, however, Rs 1.028 billion were spent on it by February 2010, showing 57 percent spending of the total allocation.

Jinnah Hydropower Project with the total cost of Rs 13.546 billion having the power generation capacity of 96 megawatt has to be completed by May 2011. During the current fiscal year, the government allocated Rs 1.250 billion for it, however, only Rs 283.071 million were spent by February 2010.

Golen Gol hydropower project located on Golen Gol Nullah, a tributary of Mastuj River, 25 kilometers from Chitral Town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, having a total cost of Rs 7.035 billion. Total allocation for this project in the current year is Rs 850 million but till Feb 2010 only Rs 67.341 million have been spent by February 2010, showing 8 percent spending of the total allocation. Whereas, the project has to be completed by June 2013 but slow release of funds would further delay completion of the project.