Disastrous turn: Kunhar River floods, damages hydropower project

Construction company’s losses expected to run in millions.

ABBOTABAD: Flooding caused by Kunhar River has damaged the structure of Patrind Hydropower Project (PHP) and caused the construction company millions of rupees worth of losses, said police and locals on Tuesday. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

SHO Waqar Khan of Garhi Habibullah police station said a Korean company had been constructing the PHP project for the last year and a half to divert Kunhar’s water into a tunnel.

Khan said construction work was in full swing when heavy rain in Kaghan valley – the catchment area of Kunhar River – caused flooding on Monday night. “It swept away part of the cemented structure and the water was redirected away from the tunnel.”



The SHO estimated losses to the company ran in millions, adding he visited the site and found the structure of the dam damaged. According to his investigation, the water had also swept some machinery and other construction material. Khan said the construction company’s administration would provide the exact details of its losses later.

According to labourers working on the project, the river also swept away four power generators used for construction work, three large-sized tanks filled with diesel, six water suction pumps and over a hundred small water tanks made of plastic.

None of the construction company officials could be reached for comments despite repeated attempts.



According to an agreement between Korean company Star Hydro, the provincial government, and owners of 212 kanals belonging to eight union councils of Abbottabad and Mansehra, the dam project would cost $400 million and generate 147 megawatts of electricity. The project, which was started in November 2011, is to be completed within three years.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2013.