CHITRAL (Visa Daily Dawn), June 8: Following a meagre allocation in the federal budget for the Lowari tunnel project, Korean construction company Sambu has decided to shift its staff and machinery from the site within a month, reliable sources told this correspondent on Wednesday.
They said that only Rs1 billion had been earmarked for the project in the recent budget of which Rs667 million would be used for clearance of outstanding dues of the company. They said that the company would leave the site by July 9 as it could not afford to keep its men and machinery idle, waiting for the required funds.
A portion of the technical staff and machinery will be shifted to the Golen Gol hydel power project in central Chitral whose construction contract has been acquired by the company, the sources said.
They said that majority of the unskilled labour at the tunnel project had been issued a one month notice for termination of their services, as per rules.
The sources said that about 45 per cent of the work had been completed, including 8.5 km main tunnel and 2.2 km approach tunnel on Chitral side. They said that the rest of the work, including 20 km approach roads on either side of the tunnel, was left to be accomplished when funds were available.
It was learnt that the consultant firm of the project had already withdrawn from the site when the National Highway Authority reportedly failed to clear its dues.
The sources said that as per the agreement deed of the project, the government was bound to pay both the construction company and the consultant firm, even if work was stopped on the site due to funds shortage.
HYDEL POWER STATION:
The local leaders of political parties have warned the government of locking out the local hydel power station of Wapda if its operation and management is not transferred to the small hydel development organisation (SHYDO) of the provincial government within a month.
Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Maulana Sher Aziz of JI, Sher Aga of ANP, Fazle Rahim of PML-N, Maulana Abdul Shakoor of JUI and Abdul Latif of PTI said that the Wapda had been ignoring improvement of its power station in Chitral due to which the residents were facing massive power loadshedding.
They have appealed to the water and power minister to transfer the power station to the SHYDO for its effective operation.
They said that only Rs1 billion had been earmarked for the project in the recent budget of which Rs667 million would be used for clearance of outstanding dues of the company. They said that the company would leave the site by July 9 as it could not afford to keep its men and machinery idle, waiting for the required funds.
A portion of the technical staff and machinery will be shifted to the Golen Gol hydel power project in central Chitral whose construction contract has been acquired by the company, the sources said.
They said that majority of the unskilled labour at the tunnel project had been issued a one month notice for termination of their services, as per rules.
The sources said that about 45 per cent of the work had been completed, including 8.5 km main tunnel and 2.2 km approach tunnel on Chitral side. They said that the rest of the work, including 20 km approach roads on either side of the tunnel, was left to be accomplished when funds were available.
It was learnt that the consultant firm of the project had already withdrawn from the site when the National Highway Authority reportedly failed to clear its dues.
The sources said that as per the agreement deed of the project, the government was bound to pay both the construction company and the consultant firm, even if work was stopped on the site due to funds shortage.
HYDEL POWER STATION:
The local leaders of political parties have warned the government of locking out the local hydel power station of Wapda if its operation and management is not transferred to the small hydel development organisation (SHYDO) of the provincial government within a month.
Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Maulana Sher Aziz of JI, Sher Aga of ANP, Fazle Rahim of PML-N, Maulana Abdul Shakoor of JUI and Abdul Latif of PTI said that the Wapda had been ignoring improvement of its power station in Chitral due to which the residents were facing massive power loadshedding.
They have appealed to the water and power minister to transfer the power station to the SHYDO for its effective operation.