ECNEC may approve evacuation of power from two plants today

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) scheduled today (Wednesday) is likely to approve evacuation of power from two 660MW Thar coal based Sino-Sindh Resources and Sindh Engro Coal Limited (SSRL/SECL) power plants at Thar (PC-I). Sources said that a meeting of the ECNEC to be presided over by the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to take up around 16 projects for water, energy and transport sectors.

The energy sector projects 500KV Chakwal substation, 7th secondary transmission line and grid stations (GEPCO), evacuation of power from two 660MW Thar coal-based SSRL/SECL power plants at Thar (PC-I) as well as enhancement in transformation capacity of National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) system by extension and augmentation of existing grid stations and evacuation of power from two 1100MW K-2/K-3 coastal power plant near Karachi.

The ECNEC is also expected to take up Lower Indus Right Bank Irrigation and Drainage project (LIRBP) Stage-I (2nd Revised PC-I) as well as extension of Right Bank Outfall Drain from Sehwan to Sea (RBOD-II) (2nd Revised) and Balochistan effluent disposal into RBOD (RBOD-III) (1st revised updated PC-I). besides compensation to affectees of Mirani Dam EL-264 to 271.4 for houses & EL-245 to 271.4 for fruit & non-fruit plants.

The meeting is also expected to take up land acquisition for 138-km Faisalabad-Abdul Hakeem Motorway (M-4) Revised), improvement and construction of Jalkhad-Chilas Road (revised) and dualisation and improvement of existing N-50 from Yarik-Sagu- Zhob including Zhob bypass (210-km) as well as rehabilitation of NHA Highway KKH (N-35) between Thakot-Raikot (remaining length of 136.4-km damaged road between 191-km- 471-km), damaged due to unprecedented monsoon rains and flash flood 2010.

The ECNEC meeting has also on its agenda the construction of two-lane highway from Basima to Khuzdar (106-km), Green Line Bus Rapid Transit System Karachi, from KESC Power House Chowrangi (Abdullah Chowk), Surjani, to Central Business District, Karachi (revised) and dualisation of Indus Highway (N-55), Sarai Gambila to Kohat section.