Natural resources depleting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Hoti

CM discusses various matters related to ongoing and upcoming hydropower projects in the province.

PESHAWAR: Natural resources, especially water, are depleting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the province is utilising all available options to make the best use of them in order to boost its economy, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said.

During a meeting with Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Shakil Durrani at the CM House on Saturday, Hoti discussed various matters related to ongoing and upcoming hydropower projects in the province.

Bhasha Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Munda Dam, Khan Khor Dam and Golen Gol Hydel Power are some of the important projects undertaken by the provincial government, which would not only make the province self-reliant in power production but would irrigate a large part of barren land, he added.

Briefing the chief minister on the pace of work on hydropower projects, the Wapda chairman said that land acquisition for Munda Dam and Kurram Tangi Dam has been completed and the projects would be inaugurated soon.

He said that groundbreaking ceremony for Bhasha Dam is expected by March next year, while Khan Khor Dam is ready for inauguration. He said that a number of foreign organisations and countries are keen to invest in hydropower in the province, therefore there would be no difficulty for the government in that regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2010.