4,250mw capacity: WAPDA to launch power projects in Kohistan

New hydel power projects will not only generate cheap energy, but will alleviate poverty from underdeveloped areas.

ABBOTABAD:

In an effort to overcome prevailing energy crises in the country, the government is working on exploiting the available natural resource of hydel power in underdeveloped areas like Kohistan.  Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Shakil Durrani announced on Saturday that, in this regard, 70 per cent of new projects will be launched in Kohistan.

While speaking to participants of an agreement-signing ceremony between Wapda and representatives of Kohistan, Durrani said that the new hydel power projects would not only generate cheap energy, but will also alleviate poverty from underdeveloped areas in the region.

Terming the Diamer Bhasha Dam project a milestone for the prosperity in Kohistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, he said that Wapda has planned several uplift schemes for communities affected by the construction of the dam. He further said that new power projects, including two in Palas tehsil in Kohistan, will have a total rated capacity of 4,250 megawatts.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2011.