The PTI-led coalition government that had promised to construct 356 hydel power stations with 34,693Kilowatt capacity in 18 months.
This promise seems to be far behind from meeting the required targets, as only four months are left in expiry of the schedule and to construct the remaining 348 small power stations in the identified 12 districts of the province.
On 7 August 2014, the PTI Chief had publically announced construction of 356 micro hydel power stations on various rivers and streams across the province. He had made the announcement at an inauguration ceremony of a micro hydel power plant in Swat.
Officials in Energy Department on condition of anonymity told APP on Monday that the KP Government has established only eight micro power stations with a capacity of only 400KW while the remaining six are in different stages of completion and likely to be completed by December this year. The completed projects have started generating electricity which is being provided to the locals.
The projects completed so far are, five in Batagram, two in Swat and one in Kohistan. While six others including two in Shangla, one in Kohistan, two in Abbottabad and one in Batagram with 245 KW electricity generation capacity would likely to be completed by December. The feasibility studies of 204 stations have been completed and approved and construction work on 93 others has been started.
The official said the delay in release of funds, massive monitoring by the watch dogs and litigations have in fact marred the pace of work on the construction of small power stations in KPK.
Most of senior officers and officials due to fear of being caught for negligence in performance of the duties by the various accountability commissions and bureaus are also avoiding processing the files in a quick manner and are trying to shift burden on others, thus affecting development works in KP.
The official said against total allocation of Rs4 billion budget of Energy Department only Rs853.665 million have been released till October 2015 which make it hard to met targets.
Rashun hydel station was massively damaged in the recent floods in Chitral and Rs100 million were allocated for its feasibility and re designing, officials added.
The officials said out of 365 micro stations 55 with 6275KW capacity would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs one billion in Chitral to provide inexpensive electricity to the community.
As many as 34 projects with 1185 KW electricity were planned for Abbottabad, 26 projects in Mansehra with the generation capacity of 3655 KW, 39 projects in Battagram with 4238 KW, 20 in Torghar with 2,015 KW, 35 in Kohistan having capacity of 3,330 KW, nine in Malakand with 1140 KW, 13 in Buner with 1840 KW, 45 in Swat with 4195 KW, 25 in Shangla with 2095 KW, 11 in Lower Dir with 960 KW and 44 micro hydropower generation projects in Upper Dir to produce 3765 KW electricity respectively.
The government is providing 80 per cent of the cost in shape of funds while community organisations such as focal institutions will have to contribute 20 percent in shape of labour and material besides contributing free land for the schemes’ allied structures, the official added.
Owing to severe damage of Rashun hydel station by the recent floods in Chitral, he said, 2750 solar system earlier allocated for all Northern districts of KP, was diverted to Chitral under villages electrification through solar/alternate energy system Phase-II to help provide electricity to residents of Upper Chitral, adding this project would be completed in nine months.
Two fans, three LED lights, solar panels, two batteries, mobile chargers would be given to people under this project as work on it is expected to start in March-April after winter’s snowfall.
Work on 2900 solar system in southern areas of KP has been started and would be completed in nine months, he said, adding Ronalya Power Project in Kohistan with 17 MW would be completed by December next and NTDC have been requested to draw electricity lines and complete pole works to link electricity with national grid for benefits of masses.
