PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is unlikely to meet the target of constructing 356 mini micro hydro-power projects (MMHPPS) during its tenure in the province as work on 124 others were yet to be completed.
The PTI government is far behind to meet the target of constructing 356 MMHPPs in the province as it has completed only 232 MMHPPs till September 2017 so far while work on 46 were yet to be initiated in the province.
The PTI Chief Imran Khan during his address to people in Swat district on April 21, 2014 had announced construction of 356 MMHPPs on various rivers and streams across the province.
Official sources in Energy Department KPK told the state-run news agency on Tuesday that the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government with an assistance of NGOs had completed only 232 MMHPPs so far in nine different districts of the province till September 2017 whereas 73 others are in different stages of construction.
Upon completion of 356 mini power stations in KPK, the sources said, a total of 34,740 kilowatts power would be generated for local population, adding that so far 11645 kilowatts generation have been achieved with construction of 232 mini power stations.
Out of the completed mini power stations, 15 have been completed in Abbottabad, 51 in Batagram, 36 in Chitral, 39 in Swat, 24 in Kohistan, 19 in Shangla, 31 in Upper Dir, four in Lower Dir and 13 in Buner.
About under construction stations, as many as seven are being constructed in Batagram, 19 in Chitral, 6 in Swat, 11 in Kohistan, 5 in Shangla, 18 in Upper Dir, 2 in Lower Dir and 5 in Buner district.
The feasibility studies of 310 stations have been approved against 310 actual identified sites whereas efforts were underway to start work on the 46 pending mini power stations in the province.
The official said delay in release of funds, monitoring by the watch dogs etc are one of the major reasons that caused delay in construction of mini power stations. They said electricity generated from these stations was being provided to local communities.
The elders and people living in the remote localities in Chitral, Dir, Battagram and others districts demanded PTI Chief Imran and Chief Minister KPK to expedite work on these stations so that relief could be provided to them.
They said Northern KPK has vast hydro power potential to get electricity on low cost to increase their income besides promoting industrialization, tourism, commerce and industries.
The generation of electricity would help reduce people’s dependence on fuel (kerosene), protect the forests resources and encouraged investment in tourism sectors.
