By Dr.Abdul Razak Shaikh,
Nai Gaj Dam is an embankment dam currently under construction on the Gaj River in the gorge area at the edge of Kirthar Mountains at about 65 kilometers north-west of Dadu City Province of Sindh. Construction began in 2012 and when complete, its power station will have a 4.2 MW installed capacity. But still, the dam is hanging in air due to a dispute between Federal and Provincial Governments.
In every part of the world lakes having millions of fish yearly are flourish for further production but in Sindh province, we have declined our fishing system and hundreds of peoples survive their families goes like famine situation. Manchar Lake seems to be very worst nowadays in our Sindh.
Lake Manchar was the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan and one of the largest in Asia.
The lake also provided large volumes of water for irrigation but this has also been reduced and has resulted in a great reduction in the area irrigated by the lake. Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) is being built to save the lake from contamination.
Fishing communities can no longer survive on Asia’s largest freshwater lake after a massive artificial drain has contaminated water and destroyed fish stocks.
Apart from serving as a continuous flow of freshwater to Manchar Lake, which will improve the ecology of the lake, the Nai Gaj dam will also serve as a lifeline for the people of this mountainous the region in Dadu District with the potential of changing their socio-economic conditions.
The dam was scheduled to be completed in June 2019, but as my information now not possible due to shortage of funds from the federal government and no proper role of Sindh Government. It is estimated that water will be supplied from Nai Gaj Dam to 28800 acres land in tehsil Johi and 300000 acres in other areas of Dadu District. Moreover, Nai Gaj Dam will supply 50 cusecs of water to the lake Mancher for decreasing its pollution.
Nai Gaj Dam’s estimated cost has increased from the initial Rs. 16.824 billion to Rs. 47 billion, following design changes and deferred financing by the federal government.
Sindh government has accused the federal government of unilateral changes in Nai Gaj Dam design as well as deferred financing, which resulted in a higher estimated cost of Rs. 47 billion compared to the initial estimate of Rs. 16.924 billion.
The original PC-1 cost of the Nai Gaj Dam project was Rs. 16.924 billion which was later revised to Rs. 26.236 billion. The first revision was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) with a reduced scope of work by deleting the essential components i.e. powerhouse, access roads, a pipeline to Manchar lake and project colony.
However, the PC-1 was revised again and submitted by WAPDA & Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) with an estimated cost of Rs 46.98 billion while additional components included powerhouse, project colony, access roads, the actual cost of spillways and pipeline to Manchar Lake. The project was recommended by Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and discussed by ECNEC; however, it was deferred due to cost-sharing by the government of Sindh.
Secretary Planning informed the Senate Standing committee that the 2nd revised PC-1 is pending ECNEC approval regarding cost-sharing by the government of Sindh for 50 percent additional cost over the 1st revision. The government of Sindh, on the other hands, says that the work component is to be fully funded by the federal government.
Sindh Government official said that the federal government is responsible for the complete funding of the project. The provincial govt. has the responsibility of land procurement, settlement and security issues. Further said that WAPDA took a unilateral decision of changing the project design and the federal government’s deferred financing led to cost escalation.
Earlier in the last month, the Supreme Court was informed that the Sindh government was not opposed to the construction of the Nai Gaj dam in Dadu district.
The submission was made by the provincial chief secretary and secretaries of finance and irrigation before a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Azmat Saeed.
The Sindh advocate general informed the court that the federal government was responsible for providing complete funding of the dam project, the province was responsible for procuring the land, resettling the displaced people and ensuring security for the project.
Advocate General said the provincial government was ready to provide Rs.188 million for the first year of the waterworks project.
Apart from serving as a continuous flow of freshwater to Manchar Lake, which will improve the ecology of the Lake, Nai Gaj dam will also serve as a lifeline for the people of this mountainous region that lies in Dadu with the potential of changing socio-economic conditions of the area people.
PPP in Sindh is the leading political party having the third time government that must look properly to save Asia’s largest and beautiful lake and also survive the poor people of the area from Starvation.