WATER RESOURCES PLANNING PLANNING ORGANIZATION (WRPO) R&D, WAPDA.

1. Background
1.1 Master Planning & Review Division (M&RD) was created in WAPDA in 1976 to provide a sound basis for long term planning and implementation of Government investment programme in the fields of irrigation & drainage, saline soil reclamation and flood protection. The study undertaken by MP&RD resulted in preparation of Revised Action programme (RAP)  for irrigated agriculted (1979) interalia creation of a multi disciplinary organization for independent cotinuation of master planning activities. The organization would continuously adjust and review the Revised Action Programme which will also provide information for annual and mid-term plans. The Perspective Planning Organization now called Water Resources Planning Organizations (WRPO) already established was allowed to continue working even after completion of MP&RD assignment under MP&RD PC-II. 

1.2  Keeping in view the organization's need for continuous planning, it was brought on Revenue budget since 01.07.1985 by MOWP previously being funded through approved PC-II. Recognizing the planning achievements of the organization, World Bank regarded it as an able unit and competent organization for planning of water resources and irrigated agriculture development. The organization is continuously performing its role under P&D Division since then and being financed through revenue budget. The on and off shortfalls in budget were met by WAPDA through its own resources and/or through deposit works.

2.   Organization Setup and functions

Water Resources Planning Organization (WRPO) is responsible for preparing, reviewing and updating Water Sector Development Plan, carrying out social and environmental studies, economic analysis of various irrigation and drainage projects, undertaking perspective water resources planning and policy studies, furnishing briefs, comments and technical notes for WAPDA and Federal Ministry of Water and Power. WRPO is also member of Scrutinizing Committee of Federal Flood Commission and reviews Flood Schemes submitted by provinces. The following directorates of WRPO accomplish the planning assignments.

2.1    Irrigation and Drainage Directorate (I&D)

       The primary functions of this directorate are planning and review of Water Resources, Flood Protection and Management, Hydropower Planning and Irrigation and Drainage Schemes to be launched with in the country. In addition, proposals, plans and concept papers regarding water sector developments floated by various national and international agencies are reviewed.

2.2  Computer Application Directorate (CAD)         

        Computer Application Directorate (CAD) manages application of Computer Packages, programs and models to plan, design, analyze and interpret various data, solve intricate statistical/mathematical problems and evaluate water resources planning and development projects using IBMR.

 2.3  Agriculture Directorate

        The important functions of this Directorate are to prepare Nation-wide water sector development plans and review policies and programmes laid down for agricultural development. It also provides papers, briefgs, technical papers on water related projects and offer comments on agriculture related aspects of various projects reports.

2.4   Economics Directorate

The Economics Directorate has an important role in WRPO. This section deals mainly with economic aspects pertaining to development of water sector programmes/ projects. It is responsible for carrying out project economic analysis i.e. B.C. Ratio, NPV and EIRR besides unit costs in addition to addition to working out possible project benefits.

3.    Major achievements

Achievements of the Perspective Planning Organization renamed as Water Resources Planning Organization are briefly given as below:-
3.1  Prepared more than 3 dozen reports including Feasibility, Planning and Technical Reports, PC-I, Country Papers and Five Year Plans. Some of these include:-
1. Revised Action Programme for irrigated agriculture (1979), three volumes & 20 supporting
   reports.
2. Northern Areas Regional Development Plan, Gilgit District 1988 (2 volumes)
3. Water Sector Investment Planning Study (1990).
4. Planning Report - Pakistan Drainage Sector Environmental Assessment, National Drainage
   Programme 1993, (4 Volumes).
5. Irrigation Facilities for Riverain Areas in Sindh Province - July 1993. Summary and Main
    Report - Supporting Volumes (6).
6. Third SCARP Transition Project, Feasibility Reports and PC-I.
7. Feasibility study for National Drainage Programme (NDP) 1995.
8. Brochures and booklets under National Water Resource Development Programme (NWRDP)

3.2  Draft Report of Water Resources for 7th, 8th & 9th Five Year Plans including
      Perspective Plan 2010, Medium Term development Framework 2005-10 and Peoples
      Five Years Development Plan 2010-15.
3.3  Drainage Master Plan of Pakistan Vol. Ito IV (2005).
3.4  Reviewed for comments - during 2009-10, more than 100 Number of documents
     including Feasibility Reports, PC-I Proforma, Flood Protection Schemes, Technical papers
      put forth by various National and International Agencies.
3.5 Organized one international workshop(IDW-5) in 1992 at Lahore and two National
     Seminars on Behalf of Ministry of Water and power and World Bank in 1994 and 1995 at
     Islamabad and Bhurban respectively. These Seminars gave new directions for the
     management of irrigation systerm of Pakistan.
3.6 One day National Seminar on Water costing was organized at Lahore during 2009. The
     seminar deliberations were compiled in the form of proceedings.
3.7 Environmental Assessment, Management and Monitoring of about 1 dozen Water
     Resources Development Proejcts were undertaken such as GBHP, Hingol Dam and
     Sabakzai, Skardu Dam Naulong, Mangi, FESS etc.
3.8 Council of Common Interest decided (1998) that WAPDA should carry out udating of
     technical studies related to the projects under National Water Resources Development
    Programme (NWRDP) and prepare a booklet on the environmental and resettlement issues
    arising from the constructgion of the Kalabagh Dam. As a follow up this organization
    undertook the udation of NWRDP studies which ultimately were recognized and approved
    for implemetation as "Vision 2025" programme.
3.9 Upgrading of Tools, Water Resources Database, Management Systems and Models under

Sub Component 'B1' of WCAP

 
This study has been taken up in January 2009 for a period of 3 years under Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services Project (WCAP) of World Bank. This study will be Completed in three years. The sub component 'B1'  of WCAP includes the upgrading of existing tools, database, models and management systems, seasonal, monthly and 10-daily planning and operational models and IBMR: development of additional systems-client interfaces, operationalization of these tools for water/power planning and operation and their linkage or transfer to IRSA and to the provincial institutions, According to the requirement of component B1, the study will cover the following functional areas:-
 

- Establishment of comuter infra-structure.
- Agro-economic Farm Survey of indus Basin.
- Upgradation of Water Resources Database.
- Upgradation and modemiztion of IBMR, development of linkage with water resources
  planning, operation of the indus System, design and analysis to
  support water development in the Basin.
- Development of a System-Client Interface for information sharing among stakeholders. - - - Strengthening Flow Forecasting System
- Training.

The component relating to Strengthening Flow Forecasting System will be conducted by Hydrology and Water Management Organization (H&WM) of P&D Division in two years.