The major Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project has been in the boiling pot since mid-1980s when the site was first selected by WAPDA engineers. Electricity consumers all over the country had contributed few rupees every month in their power bills for years together towards its cost. But unlike the much criticised, condemned, and politicised multi-purpose Kalabagh dam, it is good to note that it has seen the light of the day and is under construction since 2008.
The project is being regarded by the official quarters concerned as world class hydro power facility which is being executed under the deep mountains where geology is neither predicable nor readable and never before in Pakistan such a complex project has been developed. Some have, according to the reports, even described it as a new wonder of Pakistan as only 10 per cent of the project is on surface and as much as 90 per cent is underground consisting of tunnels.
However, it is good to note that despite all the problems and difficulties such as often delayed release of funds, weather conditions, non-availability of power during early stage of construction and delays in land acquisition, the major hydropower project has attained 85 per cent completion and has thus entered its terminal stage which is quite commendable, indeed. Needless to say, it should have been developed much earlier as these types of mega projects can be executed with speed only such projects are planned well, huge resources are made available timely without delays and more importantly political prevails with a consistent thrust.
The cost of the project no doubt is being revised upward now and then as some unforeseen problems arise here and there in the execution of the mega project but then its installed power generation capacity has also been substantially enhanced to 969 megawatt from original 650 megawatt.
Though it does not fall under 46 billion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella like many other under construction power plants in different parts of the country as it was already under execution in 2014 but it is being executed by a consortium of Chinese construction companies and China Exim Bank is the main donor among others.
Hopefully, the project will be completed as scheduled now at the much escalated cost of construction and its major contribution towards national grid will greatly help in elimination of much lingering and inconvenient load-shedding in due course of time.
M.Z.Rifat
LAHORE