PM orders urgent committee for Neelum-Jhelum project
Neelum-Jhelum is a unique project as it is 90% underground and 10% above the ground and requires the building of an extensive tunnel system under a huge mountain. PHOTO: FILE
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed on Sunday an urgent formation of a committee to address the reactivation of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
Chairing a meeting to review the project’s progress, the prime minister was informed that on April 29, a pressure drop occurred in the right and left headrace tunnels of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, leading to a reduction in power generation.
By May 2, 2024, power generation from the plant had completely ceased.
A preliminary investigation report, presented by former federal interior secretary Shahid Khan, head of the investigation committee, highlighted the financial impact of the closure, noting a loss of millions of rupees to the national exchequer. The fault occurred in a rock burst zone, a detail the briefing emphasised.
The meeting also addressed previous issues with the project, revealing that during the PTI regime in 2021, an abnormal drop in pressure in the headrace tunnel led to a significant decrease in power generation. However, this issue was ignored and not reported, described in the briefing as a matter deliberately suppressed.
Further, it was noted that power generation had been suspended in 2022 due to faults in the tailrace tunnel of the project. The meeting underscored that geophysical and seismic factors were ignored during the construction of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, and adequate concrete lining of the headrace tunnel was not done.
Shehbaz instructed that the investigation report regarding the recent closure of the project be completed immediately. He emphasised the need to identify those responsible for the defects and take strict action against them.
Experts pointed out design defects and inadequate concrete lining, criticizing the neglect of such a significant project. The prime minister questioned why a detailed geological survey had not been conducted and labelled the lack of third-party validation as criminal negligence.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other high officials.