After eight days: Power generation restored at DKHPP

Decision taken following agreement at jirga in Pattan

KOHISTAN: Electricity from Dobair Khwar Hydropower Project (DKHPP) was restored after eight days on Saturday as Wapda and local administration officials vowed to address demands of protesters.

An insider familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune Wapda authorities have decided to honour its written agreement to allocate 13 megawatts of electricity at cheaper rates. Hundreds of Kohistan residents forced the interruption of power generation at DKHPP after Wapda failed to honour its commitment to provide electricity to areas in Kohistan; the DKHPP was previously only providing power to the national grid station.

The decision was taken following a grand jirga held in Pattan earlier in the day. Insiders told The Express Tribune, the jirga was held through the efforts of the district administration and elected representatives.

Wapda officials and district administration assured elders that as per the written agreement signed between Wapda and locals in August 2013, they would provide 13MW of electricity to residents of Kohistan at cheap rates. During the jirga, Wapda officials guaranteed the implementation of demands to upgrade Kohistan’s grid station, establish supply lines and accommodate locals on non-technical posts. These demands will be met within the next 30 days, it was stated.

Following the assurance, tribal elders decided to call off their protest. However, they threatened to protest again if Wapda goes back on its promises. When contacted, Lower Kohistan DPO Iftikhar Khan confirmed power generation at the plant had been restored.

Power generation from DKHPP was forcibly suspended on December 11. As a result, protesters from both Lower Kohistan and Upper Kohistan surrounded the plant against the delay in the acceptance of their demands and forced workers to shut down two turbines with 65MW capacity each.

The police deployed personnel at the plant to prevent any damage to the power house’s structure. However, locals continued their protest, forcing the administration to deploy military troops to assist the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2015.