ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday was briefed by the Chairman Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lieutenant General (retd) Muzammil Hussain regarding various ongoing power projects.
The prime minister had tasked the newly appointed Chairman WAPDA to speed up execution of crucially significant hydro power projects; meeting the deadlines set for their completion.
In a meeting held in Islamabad today, the Chairman WAPDA told the prime minister that Neelum Jhelum hydroelectric project would be ready for inauguration on February 28, 2018.
The prime minister was informed that the left tunnel connection of the project had been completed by October 23, 2016 while the right tunnel connection would be completed by April 30, 2017.
The project’s dry test was scheduled for December 2017 while the wet test would be undertaken by February 01, 2018 by generating electricity and start earning revenue of $ 15 Million.
Likewise, the second unit of Neelum Jhelum would be operational by March 15, 2018 while the 3rd and 4th unit by April 15, 2018.
The Chairman WAPDA further briefed that speedy execution was underway on Kachhi Canal Project which consisted of main canal and distribution system.
The Chairman WAPDA told that the project would provide irrigation water to an area of 72, 000 acres in Dera Bugti after its completion in August 2017. A total of 9, 917 acres of land acquisition would be completed by May 2017 for the 2, 160 MW Dasu hydro power project.
The ground breaking of main works on Dasu project by the prime minister would be performed in June 2017 and the project would be completed at cost of $ 4, 300 Million.
The prime minister was further informed that the Golen Gol hydro project would produce electricity three times more than the requirements of Chitral. This run of the river project was located on Golen Gol Nullah, a majority tributary of Mastuj River.
The Golen Gol hydro project would have a 3.8 km long tunnel with an installed capacity of 108 MW to be completed with a cost of Rs. 29. 077 billion by December 2017.
Moreover, the Chairman WAPDA told that Tarbela 4th Extension Project would enhance the capacity of the project from 3, 478 MW to 4, 888 MW and the first unit of the extension would be commissioned in December 2017. The 2nd and 3rd units would be commissioned by the mid of 2018.
The prime minister appreciated the work of Chairman Lt General (retd) Muzammil Hussain and WAPDA.