Mohmand Dam construction work to start within next two weeks

WAPDA using its own capability will kick start the work as early as second week of January.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has been able to successfully realign Mohmand Dam construction project after a delay of decades. Removing the legal, financial and technical snags, the project is all set to kick start as early as second week of January. Following the transparent best practices in line with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) provisions, procurement process was initiated which included civil works, design, supply and installation of electrical and mechanical works and hydraulic steel structures. International bidding for eligible firms or joint ventures (JVs) was invited for procurement in accordance with PPRA and PEC provisions. As many as 23 firms purchased the bids and two JVs submitted their bids. Technical bids were opened on 26 June in presence of JVs. The bids were evaluated by a consortium of consultants including NESPAK, SMEC (Australia) and ACE, wherein CGGC-DESCON was declared responsive. Pre-award technical negotiations are underway and after finalisation of the evaluation process, the contractor is likely to be mobilised by another 10 weeks by mid March. Meanwhile, WAPDA using its own capability will kick start the work as early as second week of January including geotech boring, establishment of seismic station, establishment of weather station and preparation of camp site for optimum utilization of low flow period from January to May. This will substantially save both on time and cost. Some speculative comments about the contract are baseless since the entire process has been undertaken with utmost transparency without any favour or fear. WAPDA takes pride in its best practices in vogue and has the confidence of international donors for any commercial financing.