River link: Power project tunnel completed

The tunnel will direct water from Neelum River to power turbines and flow into Jhelum River.

MUZAFFARABAD:

Construction work on a 4.5 kilometre-tunnel from Chatter Kalas to Majhoi using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was completed on Tuesday.

The tunnel is part of work on the 969 megawatt Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Electric Project (NJHEP), located on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad.

The project envisages the diversion of Neelum River water through a tunnel linking it to Jhelum River. The Neelum-Jhelum intake is at Nauseri, some 41 km east of Muzaffarabad. The powerhouse will be built at Chatter Kalas, some 22 km from here. After passing through the turbines, the water will be released into Jhelum River about 4 km south of Chatter Kalas.

NJHEP Chief Executive General (retd) Zubair said successful completion of the tunnel is the result of workers’ commitment and the construction company’s planning.

“We are proud of all the workers who spent days and nights to complete the tunnel”, he said.

Gen Zubair also hailed the local community for their support in timely completion of the project.

A number of construction workers and Wapda officials were present to witness the TBM emerge at the Majhoi site.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2014.