370 hydel power units planned in eight districts, including Chitral

PESHAWAR, Jan 25: The KPK government will set up 370 small hydel power generation units in eight districts of the province during the next six to eight months. The province would invest Rs5 billion to install the small hydel power units, involving a total generation capacity of 35 MW. Each of the planned power unit would generate from a few kilowatt electricity to hundreds of kilowatt electricity. “The government would arrange the funds through budgetary adjustments, utilising its budgetary cushion,” said the official. A decision to this effect was taken at the maiden meeting of the provincial government’s special committee on energy. The “Apex Committee on Energy”, which met in Peshawar, decided to provide electricity to areas not connected with the national grid. The establishment of power generation units would benefit an estimated 800,000 households in eight districts, including Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Dir, and others. The government plans to run the units on the model already implemented successfully by non-governmental organisations, including Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and Sarhad Rural Support Programme. “The communities would be involved to manage, operate, and maintain the power generation units,” said the official, adding that AKRSP and SRSP might also be involved to benefit from their experience.]]>