ISLAMABAD, Jan 28 (APP): Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Thursday said that 76 percent work of Neelum-Jhelum power plant has been completed adding that its first unit would start supplying 242 MW electricity to the national grid in July 2017.
“By the end of December 2017 the remaining three units having capacity to generate 242 mw each would start supply electricity to national gird, he said this during a visit to the Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power project.
The Minister said that the project was delayed due to flawed planning of previous governments.
He said completion of the project would help overcome power shortage in the country.
Abid Sher Ali said that as per promise made by the PML-N during its election campaign the power shortage would be ended in the country by the March 2018.
He said despite financial constants, the present government continued work on the Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Power project and arranged finances of its earlier completion.
The Minister said that to overcome power shortage, the government had initiated work on many powers projects across the country.
Chief Executive Officer of the project Lt (R) General Muhammad Zubair in a briefing said that over Rs 189 billion had been spent on the project till date.
“The project would be completed within the given time period” he added.
He said speedy work is in progress for laying transmission lines.
He said 50 percent work to upgrade transmission lines had been completed across the country while work on the remaining transmission lines is in progress.
He regretted that all the previous governments had not initiated work to upgrade transmission lines.
The CEO said that due to delay and non-serious attitude of the past governments, the cost of the project had jumped from Rs 290 billion to Rs 404 billion.
Source: APP
