THIS refers to the news item `Basha dam project progress discussed` (July 5).
Khawaja Asif`s statement about work by Chinese on feasibility study on the Indus River is disturbing, if true.
I would like to set the record straight.
Wapda has already completed through international/national consulting firms detailed engineering design and tender documents for three projects Basha dam, Dasu dam and Bunji dam hydropower projects, which are ready for tendering and have completed the feasibility study of the Pattan hydropower project. A feasibility study is in progress on the last of the identified site of Thakot hydropower project.
If the minister`s statement is correct, we can presume that some three to five years will be lost in taking up the construction phase of the project which is a colossal loss of time and also resources to re-do the already completed feasibility, detailed engineering designs and the finalisation of procurement documentation phases.
It would be appropriate for the government to finalise a joint review of the work already completed by representatives of Chinese and Wapad consultants.
The most important and sensitive phase for implementation is the finalisation of the cost of each project, the mode of implementation (EPC, BOT, BOOT) and the negotiations about the rates of power/ power purchase agreements between the Chinese developers, Wapda and related companies.
Inthe absence ofsuchpreimplementation agreements, national interest will be seriously compromised.
