SKARDU, June 20: The government has allocated Rs600 million in the current financial year for the multi-purpose Sadpara dam project and work on the dam is progressing speedily.

The government has recently allocated Rs600 million in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP-2004-05) for the project, against Rs617.9 million of the previous fiscal year, official sources said.

The sources said that the total cost of the project is Rs2.09 billion, including Rs195.8 million foreign component. The project comprised main dam, 13 megawatt hydro power station and drinking water supply line.

To increase the storage capacity of the main dam, diversion of Shatung canal is also included in the project. After completion of the dam, the storage capacity would be as much sufficient as beneath the present under cultivation lands, 15,000 acre more area could be cultivated in Skardu and its localities.

In addition to it, 2,000,000 gallon drinking water will also be discharged daily. For this purpose, two separate water channels are being constructed on the left and right banks of the Hurgisa canal, sources added.

KOREAN EXPEDITION: An eight-member Korean team has reached here to scale the 8,035-metre and 8,068-meter high peaks of Gashabrum-I and GB-II in the Karakoram range, sources told Dawn.

The team on Saturday left for Askoli the last village of Shigar valley. Lee Won Hoo is leader of the team.

MEDICAL CAMP: A three-day medical camp has concluded here at Alchori village of Shigar valley. Commander 62 Brigade, Brig Arjumand Iqbal Janjua was the chief guest at the concluding session, sources said.

The camp was organized under the directive of FCNA command to provide medical facilities to the people of the backward and remote areas. During the three days 8,000 people of Alchori and suburban areas were provided treatment facilities. Specialists, surgeons and medical officers examined the patients.