The construction of Daducha Dam has once again been delayed even though the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resolved the main issue of the rates of land acquisition for the state-of-the-art water conservation project.
The dam was proposed in 2001 and its contract was awarded to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) after 19 years, in 2020. Despite the foundation stone being laid, the contract holder has demanded a further increase of over 15 per cent in the total estimated cost of the project, prompting the Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha to reject the demand.
“If the FWO does not resume the work as per the estimated cost of the dam, the contract will be re-tendered and the existing contract cancelled,” the commissioner warned.
Sources said the estimated cost was likely to increase in case the contract was re-tendered. In this regard, two meetings chaired by the Rawalpindi commissioner ended without result. These meetings were held last Friday and Saturday.
According to sources, the contract holder, FWO, has been given respite in these meetings to think over it and take a final decision because the estimated cost will not be increased. The bid for the current contract was given by FWO itself and then they had won the contract by underbidding all the bid holders. A final response will be taken from the FWO in the week starting today [Monday], after which approval will be given to re-issue open tenders for the construction of the dam in the next 72 hours.
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When the Daducha Dam work started, the landowners refused to give their lands at the government price but the issue was later resolved. However, the FWO has now demanded to further increase in the estimated cost of the project.
Exorbitant prices
An FWO representative informed the commissioner in the meeting that the contract was two years old. “The work had stopped. Now the cost of building materials, including cement, sand, gravel, and labour costs have all increased. The dam cannot be completed at the old rates,” he explained.
The commissioner took the stance that the contract was awarded in an open bidding and thus it could be increased in the meetings. “For this purpose, it is necessary to issue fresh tenders,” he said while rejecting the summary for raising the funds.
DC Hasan Cheema, ADC revenue, Saddar assistant commissioner, Small Dams Organisation director, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) managing director and engineer and FWO representatives also participated in the meeting.
Official sources told The Express Tribune that in case of a fresh tender, there will be a delay of two to three months for re-award of the contract and after that, the construction of the dam will be completed in three years i.e. by the end of 2026.
Project significance
Daducha Dam is being built in Daducha, a small village on the outskirts of Rawalpindi. Daducha is a 400-year-old village that is the centre of the Gakhars and Kiyani caste while there are several Rajput households in the area.
Also read Islamabad plans hatchery at Rawal Dam
The total estimated cost of the Daducha Dam is Rs6 billion. With its completion, the garrison city will get 35 million gallons of water per day, which will meet the major water needs of Rawalpindi city, cantonment and the adjoining areas. This place is quite suitable for a dam as a large part of it is like a natural dam.
The water will come from the natural springs and large rain drains of the hilly tehsil Kahuta and its surrounding small hills. Its catchment area is more than that of Rawal Dam. It will have a storage capacity of 60,000 acre-feet of water while its dead-level surface will be 15,000 acre-feet. This dam was proposed in 2001. The Punjab government has already released Rs150 million for its construction.
Feasibility report
According to a feasibility report prepared by the Small Dams Organisation, the Daducha Dam was to be constructed on the Ling River on 18,566 kanals at a cost of over Rs7 billion. The water reservoir is considered a long-term replacement for the Rawal Dam, which was built in 1962 and was designed to last for 50 years. The dam is considered a necessity by the Punjab government because Rawal Dam has been tapped out.
A Wasa official said Daducha Dam will be able to supply 35 million gallons daily (MGD) to Rawalpindi city and its cantonment areas and serve as a reliable source of drinking water for the next 50 years. The area where the dam is being built is part of the Kahuta, Kallar Syedan and Rawalpindi tehsils of the Rawalpindi district.
Due to the continuous delay in the construction of the dam, the issue of drinking and agricultural water shortage in Rawalpindi may further exacerbate in the coming months.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2023.
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