LAHORE, June 16: The Ministry of Water and Power, after receiving an evaluation report from National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak), on Saturday cleared the contract for award of Golen Gol hydro-project.

The 106MW project award had been facing some contractual controversies for the last few months, threatening an inordinate delay in the project that could have caused Rs5 billion per annum loss to the national exchequer.

In its June 7 letter (No1(3)DS(A)2012), the ministry stated that based on the findings of an inquiry report and in order to ascertain factual position, comments from the Nespak were sought on some technical issues raised by the complainants.

The report from the Nespak has been received, which says: “The Wapda Committee’s report comprehensively supplements consultants’ tender evaluation and together with exhaustive deliberations exercised by Wapda, the conclusion arrived at vis-a-vis Rainpower Consortium tender being the most advantageous for the project, is appropriate in the given conditions.”

The water and power ministry is pleased to endorse conclusions and recommendations of the Nespak, it concludes.