PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakthunkhwa Government has completed 255 mini macrohydro-power projects and work on 67 others were in full swing in 12northern districts of the province to provide inexpensive electricity topeople as per vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The KP government has also proposed seven mega projects for inclusion inCPEC include Mujigram-Shghor 64MW, Istaru Booni 72MA, Turen More Kari350MW, Jamshill Turen More 260MW, Ghrait-Swir Lasht 277MW, Torcamp-Guddubar409MW, Kari-Mushkur 446MW and power evacuation from Chitral to Chakdarthrough a transmission line that after completion would help arrest energyand water problems.

The Government has signed MoU with Chinese companies for construction ofthese seven gigantic hydropower projects of 1978 MW proposed under CPEC inChitral, officials in KP energy department told APP.

Till August 2018, the official said KP government with help of NGOs hascompleted 255 out of 356 mini macro hydropower projects (MMHPPs) in 12northern districts of the province whereas work on 67 others were in fullswing.

As per contract of 356 MMHPPs, the feasibility studies of 333 have beenapproved by the competent forum out of which 255MMHPPs with 13445 kilowattspower generation capacity has been completed.

Out of 255 MMHPPs, 15 were completed in Abbottabad, 51 Batagram, 44Chitral, 40 Swat, 28 Kohistan, 21 Shangla, 37 Upper Dir, four Lower Dir, 13Buner and one each in Torghar and Manshera districts.

As many as seven MMHPPs are being constructed in Batagram, 11 in Chitral,five in Swat, seven in Kohistan, three Shangla, 12 Upper Dir, five Buner,two Lower Dir and nine in Manshera with help of NGOs.

The official said litigants and shifting of heavy machinery to mountainousareas besides others factors contributed to delay in construction ofremaining MMHPPs.

“The electricity transmission from most of these MMHPPs had already beenstarted to communities living near it with a significant positivesocio-economic changes are being witnessed in their lifestyle,” theofficial said.

The KP government is taking a lead role by capitalizing on an excellentwork made by previous PTI government to complete ongoing dams andhydropower projects on different rivers and tributaries on war footingbasis to provide affordable energy and clean drinking water under PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s vision to all.

KP government accelerated work on five ongoing small medium and bighydropower projects (HPP) with overall 215.8megawatt (MW) capacity costingRs64980.1million, which would be completed by May 2019, officials in KPEnergy Department told APP.

These projects include 10.8MW Jabori Manshera HPP costing Rs3798.26millionwith completion of 70pc work whereas on Karora HPP in Shangla with 11.2MWcapacity costing Rs4620.06 million, 65pc work was completed.

At least 30pc work on Koto HPP Dir Lower with 40.8MW costing Rs14252.84million, 25pc work on 84MW Matiltan HPP Swat worth Rs20722.94 million and30pc work on 69MW Lawi HPP costing Rs21586m were completed by previous PTIgovernment.

“We have offered seven sites of 668MW to private sector for investment andresponse of investors are highly encouraging,” the official said, addingSharmai HPP with 150MW capacity, has been awarded to a company while sixothers projects namely Nardam Dam in Manshera 188MW, Shigokach HPP in LowerDir 102MW, Arkari Gol HPP CHitral 99MW, Batakundi HPP in Manshera 96MW andNandihar HPP Batagram would be awarded soon.

These gigantic projects would be completed with USD 1435 million, whichwould provide inexpensive electricity and uninterrupted water supply topeople and agriculture besides giving enormous boost to business,industrial and infant industries.

Three mega hydropower power projects of 506MW capacity includingShushgai-Zhendoli 144MW, Shogo-Sin 132MW and Laspur Marigram 230MA inChitral have been awarded to FWO to ensure its speedy construction.

The official said negotiations were underway with Asian Development Bank(ADB) for construction of Balakot Manshera project of 300MW capacity.

CWDP has approved concept papers of Barikot Patrak HPP in Lower Dir with47MW capacity, Patrak Shangrail HPP Lower Dir with 22 MW and Gabral KalamSwat 110 MW for which negotiations was held with World Bank for itsconstruction.

Under development of mini-macro hydropower sites initiative , the EnergyDepartment has identified 160 hydropower sites on canals costing Rs3301mlnand 512 hydropower sites on rivers and tributaries costing Rs8495.41mln tofully tap KP’s hydel generation and water potential.

The official said consultants were hired for these mega projects after itwas approved by PDWP on November 11, 2017.To save energy, KP Govt hasstarted focus on solarization of schools and basic health units and decidedto solarize 8000 schools including 30pc girls schools and 187BHUs with anestimated cost of Rs4347m for which services of consultant was hired.

The KP government has also decided to solarize 100 villages in southern andcentral districts of the province and under this mega project, 2900 solarsystem has been provided to people of these districts.

“We have started implementation on this key project costing Rs300mln underwhich each household will get 30watts solar panel, three LED lights, oneeach ceiling and pedestal fan, one mobile phone charging slot and twobatteries,” the official elaborated.

The KP Govt has completed survey and hiring of consultant to solarize 4440mosques in the province besides solarization of remaining blocks of CivilSecretariat and Chief Minister Secretariat, Peshawar. – APP