Waziristan: The Planning Commission has submitted the 2nd revised PC-I of the Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), at a total cost of PKR 25.9 billion, according to news published on December 11.
The project includes an FEC/USAID grant of PKR 9.8 billion and cost-sharing of PKR 2.57 billion by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, allocating PKR 1.41 billion for Frontier Works Organization’s security and miscellaneous costs and PKR 1.16 billion for land acquisition.
As per the details, the said project aims to harness floodwater, providing an assured irrigation water supply of 848 cusecs to irrigate 191,139 acres of land and generate 17.4 MW of electricity. The Gomal Zam Dam, constructed on the Gomal River in South Waziristan, boasts a 437 ft. high dam with a reservoir capacity of 1.14 MAF, a 60.5 km main canal, and a 36.62 km Waran Canal System. The hydropower component has been operational since June 2013, and the Waran Canal System was handed over to the Irrigation Department in November 2020.
The original PC-I was approved in 2001 for PKR 12.82 billion. Due to various challenges, the project’s cost was revised to PKR 25.92 billion. As of August 2023, the project is physically 100% completed, with financial progress at 116.70%, incurring expenditures of PKR 24 billion against the approved cost of PKR 20.6 billion.
Expenditures include PKR 7.69 billion from PSDP, PKR 1.4 billion from the provincial share, PKR 9.54 billion from USAID, and PKR 6.18 billion from WAPDA bridge financing. Reasons for the revision include increased consultancy costs, high bids for the Waran Canal, variation orders, compensation, financing charges, and increased security costs due to prolonged implementation.
Moreover, the Ministry of Water Resources has released PKR 18.6 billion, with an expenditure of PKR 24.8 billion. The net requirement for the project, as per the 2nd revised PC-I, is PKR. 7.25 billion. The remaining 137,000 acres of agricultural land are expected to be developed by June 2023.
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