Kalabagh dam project shelved

Lahore: The government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) decided to shelve the controversial Kalabagh dam project once and for all in the name of national reconciliation. It also claimed that a comprehensive approach would end load-shedding after 2009. It said the bifurcation of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and Wapda would remain intact and both organisations would work within their ambit of powers.

Addressing a press conference at the Wapda house, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Sindh and NWFP had passed resolutions against the construction of the Kalabagh dam and, therefore, its construction could endanger the federation. The minister said funds allocated for its construction would not lapse, but would be spent on other water and power projects.

The minister said the nation had wasted a lot of time debating construction of the Kalabagh dam. “For a strong and united federation, it is better to abandon the project,” he added. Divulging energy generation plans, he said the government had started energy generation on war footing. “By April 2009, 2,200 megawatts electricity would be added to the national grid,” he said, adding 1,000 megawatts would be generated by IPPs, 200 MW by rental plants and 1,000 MW by intrinsic resources.

“Besides, 3,000 MW will be generated by new projects,” he said, adding 500 megawatts would be added by hydel generation in a few weeks. He said the water situation had been improving, so hydel generation would be increased in a few weeks.

Talking about the energy conservation plan, Raja Pervez Ashraf said all markets would close at 9pm across the country from June 1. However, he said the closure of shops at 9pm was for only three month — from June to August.

“The country would adopt the practice once a year and we hope there would be no need for the practice after 2009,” he added. The minister said the government had asked the business community to stager the holiday. “Orders have been issued for switching on streetlights on an alternate basis,” he said, adding Wapda had been directed to stop the electricity supply to neon signboards across the country. “All energy conservation plans would be implemented from June 1,” he added. The minister said clocks would be put forward by an hour from June 1 for maximum use of sunlight.

He said the government had planned Rs 120 billion development schemes in the next public sector development programme (PSDP). “In the PSDP, an amount has been allocated for issuing tenders for Bhasha dam, Mangla dam raising project and Neelum-Jhelum hydro power project,” he elaborated.

He said the government had been working for increasing the use of alternate energy resources. “The government has been working on wind, solar and coal energy generation projects on war footing,” he concluded.