AJK Prime Minister lays foundation stone of hydel power project

ISLAMABAD (March 17 2009): Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Government has kicked off construction work on hydel power project of 1.7 megawatt worth Rs 300 million in a bid to explore the power potential in this Himalayan region. The Dhanna Khoi Ratta, Hydel Power Project is one of the projects of 5,594MW potential explored in AJK.

Prime Minister AJK, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan on Monday laid the foundation stone of the project, which will start power generation in 30 months and give AJK an income of Rs 40 million per annum. The project, being constructed by Alamdar Engineering, will be handed over to AJK Government in 2011, and will provide employment to 150 to 170 people during construction and after completion 35 to 40 people will get jobs on this project.

AJK Premier told the gathering that AJK government will start work on 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydel Power Project soon, while feasibility studies of 1000 MW Kohala Hydel Project will be completed next year.

With completion of these two projects, AJK will be in a position to run the stalled wheel of industry and agriculture by providing it electricity. He said that besides these two projects, potential of more about 15,000 MW hydro power project was traced in AJK, which can change the ultimate socio economic scene of AJK and of Pakistan as well.

He said that AJK Government is in contact with WAPDA for utilising the hydro power potential of AJK. Wapda has offered AJK Government to help construct the power project below 50 MW capacities. "In next weeks meeting with WAPDA authorities, we will talk to them for initiation of other mega projects of hydel power generation", he added.

He asked the industrialist and investors of Pakistan invest in highly profitable hydro-power generation in AJK, as it will help in eradication of poverty, as AJK have the potential of over 15,000 MW hydro power generation. "We have almost completed the studies of projects of over 5,594 MW hydro power generation and if launched these projects will help end power crisis in Pakistan. "In my personal meetings with private sector, I told them that AJK was completely safe and secure for investors and law and order situation and public approach is ideal for investment", Yaqoob Khan said.

He said that Pakistan was facing a shortfall of about 4,000 MW electricity, which has badly affected the industrial and agriculture sectors and damaged economy. "If Pakistani investors will invest in this sector, it will help the country not only to run the stuck industrial wheel but also help eradication of poverty, unemployment and economic disorder", he said.

Giving details of the explored hydel power potential in AJK, the premier said that potential of 2,468 MW was explored in Muzaffarabad, 1,369 MW in Mirpur, 231 MW in Poonch, 645.4 MW in Kotli, 338.85 MW in Bagh and 541 MW in Neelum districts of AJK. At present AJK is generating just 37.65 MW electricity, while it needs 400 MW he said.

He said that the work in progress on hydel power generation projects include 3 MW Sharda, 3.2 MW Sharian, 1.7 MW Dhanan, 4.8 MW Batter, 0.6 MW Hallan, 0.6 MW Rangarr, 0.32 MW Halmatt and 3 MW Qadirabad power projects. The feasibility study of four projects of 63.80 MW hydro power generation has been completed and will be kicked off soon. These projects include 43.5 MW Kuttan Jagran-II, 14.4 MW Jheng, 3.2 MW Rerra and 3 megawatt Hajeera, he added.