Budget blow stalls uplift plans

Officials say funding crisis to delay proposed projects by six months

RAWALPINDI:

The new fiscal year budget of Punjab has dealt a blow to the development plans of Rawalpindi district, as no funds have been allocated for the proposed mega projects, including new dams.

As a result, these projects will not commence until December 31, 2023.

According to sources, the Annual Development Programme for 2023-24 has also suffered a significant funding cut of 75 per cent, leading to a six-month delay in all planned projects. The government has directed institutions to prioritise and promote mega projects exclusively.

This decision has practically halted ten major urban development initiatives, including Dadocha Dam, Mujahid Dam, Papin Dam, Chahan Dam Water Supply Scheme, Mahota Dam, Nulla Leh Expressway, Sewerage Tunnel Project, Ring Road, Defense Chowk Project, and Ghazi Barotha project.

None of these projects have been promised any funds and are now at the mercy of the next government.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Chatha, who previously announced the launch of these projects, has been instructed to focus solely on holding meetings and presenting the projects' merits, sources said.

It is expected that funds for these projects will be allocated in November 2023 during the eight-month budget. However, the demands for funds by the district administration, district council administrator, tehsil administrators, and the Ministry of Local Government have all been rejected. Despite tenders being issued for the construction of five dams, the process failed due to the lack of funding.

District administration sources confirmed that the caretaker government has presented a budget covering only four months, from July 1 to October 31. Such a short timeframe does not allow for the allocation of significant funds for these projects. Consequently, the responsibility falls on the new government, which is expected to initiate these mega projects in the new year of 2024.

However, the estimated cost of these projects and development schemes is projected to increase by 15 to 20 per cent due to rising costs of materials like steel and iron. As a result, all PC1s (project cost estimates) and tenders will need to be reissued.

On the other hand, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chatha has said that the importance of Small Dams for agriculture in Potohar region is undeniable.

While presiding over the meeting on Small Dams along with Irrigation Secretary Dr Wasif, he emphasised that this is the reason that efforts are being made to utilise the dams across the division to their full potential. He directed that before construction of new dams, it should be ensured that their feasibility report is complete in all aspects so as to avoid any issue in future and obtain lasting results from them.

The task force constituted by the commissioner for each dam after a detailed visit to the dams briefed the participants about issues and sugesstions to make utilisation of existing dams at 100%. The commissioner directed that the patchwork of the approach road leading to the dams should be done by the district council.

Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Hasan Waqar Cheema, Director Development Nazia Sudhan, Project Director Irrigation Tabriz Elahi, Project Director Small Dams and other officers attended meeting in person while deputy commissioners of Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal districts participated through video link.

Speaking on this occasion, Secretary of Irrigation said that dams are important for domestic use, agriculture, fisheries, irrigation and tourism as well and they have to be activated keeping in mind all these aspects. He assured us to take concrete steps to provide special funds for the repair maintenance and desilting of dams in the upcoming annual development schemes.

While giving a briefing on this occasion, it was informed that a total of 58 dams are complete and functional in the Rawalpindi division, including two dams in Islamabad. These dams have a gross storage capacity of 0.29 million acre-feet and yield 43.15 million gallons of drinking water per day.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2023.