Neelum-Jhelum revival delayed until 2028

The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources was informed on Friday that the Rs508 billion Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP), which has remained non-operational due to tunnel faults, is unlikely to resume operations for another one-and-a-half years, while Wapda expressed hope that it will be back online in 2028.

The committee also cautioned Punjab's chief engineer against providing misleading information regarding encroachments along the Ravi River, insisting that officials present accurate facts before the parliamentary body.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Jam Saifullah Khan, with members questioning the status of the 969 megawatts Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project after Rs508 billion had been spent on a scheme that is currently lying idle.

Responding to members' concerns, Wapda Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Muhammad Saeed described Neelum-Jhelum as a unique project whose operation depends entirely on its tunnel system.

He acknowledged that concerns had existed since the project's inception but said Pakistan had to establish its water rights over the Neelum River while competing with India over the project.

He said the project was shut down after faults developed in the tunnels but had already recovered around 80 per cent of its cost through electricity generation.

"If the project had continued operating for another two years, its entire cost would have been recovered," he said.

The chairman expressed optimism that the project would become operational again in 2028, adding that consultations with the ministry were continuing.

"This is a very good project and it has generated a substantial amount of electricity for the country," he said.

The Wapda chairman also informed the committee that the prime minister had already constituted a committee in view of the ongoing monsoon season, which had undertaken extensive work to remove obstructions from river channels.

Committee Chairman Senator Jam Saifullah directed officials to present a detailed briefing on water storage projects on the Chenab River at the next meeting.

Officials from the Ministry of Water Resources informed lawmakers that a draft report on dam safety had been prepared with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while work on finalising the draft Dam Safety Bill was nearing completion.

During discussions on flood management, committee members voiced concern over encroachments along the Ravi River.

Senator Khalil Tahir said last year's flooding along the Ravi had caused losses worth billions of rupees.

Punjab's chief engineer told the committee that settlements had been removed from the riverbed.

However, the committee chairman warned officials against providing misleading information regarding encroachments along the Ravi River and stressed that nothing should be concealed from the committee.

The Wapda chairman told lawmakers that Pakistan loses billions of litres of water to the sea every year because of inadequate storage capacity, underscoring the need for a comprehensive national water management strategy and stronger flood mitigation measures.