P&D returns PC-I of NaiGaj Dam to W&P
The Ministry of Planning and Development has returned PC-I of the NaiGaj Dam to the Ministry of Water and Power, as the former wants a commitment from the Sindh government that it will finance environmental component of the project.
The step may affect efforts of reviving the Manchar Lake—the largest lake in Asia. Manchar is supposed to get fresh water supplies from the dam which is the only source of water for the lake. Ministry of planning has asked the ministry of W&P that before the processing of PC-I by CDWP it should provide written commitment from Sindh government for financing environmental component costing Rs5.80 billion.
The NaiGaj Dam project was initially approved by the ECNEC in 2012. Even after a lapse of five years, the CDWP has not revised the PC-I of the project. NaiGaj Dam is being constructed on Gaj River in district Dadu of Sindh with the total cost of Rs.46 billion. The 194-feet high dam will store 300,000 acre feet of water and irrigate 29,000 acres of the land. The project will create employment opportunities numbering around 6,500. The annual benefits of the project have been estimated over Rs3 billion.
Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) is the major polluter of the lake. It is also one of the causes of quarrel between Sindh and center. This lake cannot be revived until salinities from RBOD are stopped. It is feared that if the RBOD project will not complete on time, the flora and fauna of Manchar Lake will completely be wiped out. However after an agreement reached between Federal and Sindh governments on RBOD-II funding, it is hoped that the contamination of Manchar Lake will end.
The issue of fresh water supply to the Mancher Lake still persists as the water wing of the planning ministry has returned the PC-I of the NaiGaj project without the approval of the competent authority. Planning experts are of the view that Mancher Lake cannot be revived unless fresh water is supplied from NaiGaj Dam. Supreme Court has already initiated suomoto proceedings on growing level of contamination in the Lake and deprivation of the livelihood of fishermen. The experts of the planning ministry are of the view that degrading quality of water of Mancher is at an alarming stage and if fresh water is not supplied, it will be a great dilemma for this national asset.
The PC-I of the project was approved by the ECNEC in August 2012 at a rationalized cost of Rs26.24 billion after removing some components of the project on which the Sindh government raised its objections. As it is believed that the environmental requirement of the project could not be addressed until fresh supplies from NaiGaj is not ensured. The implementation of deleted components will increase the project cost by 13 percent (Rs5.80 billion) to the total cost. The planning ministry also supported Sindh’s stand; though, the cost should be borne out by the province. The CDWP considered revised PC-I of Rs46.55 billion in March 2016 but it was deferred.
