Staff Correspondent
YARKHUN: Residents of Kand in upper Yarkhun valley of Upper Chitral have raised serious concerns over the prolonged delay and repeated failure in the completion of hydropower projects in the area.
They demanded transparency, accountability and urgent action from the relevant authorities.
In an appeal addressed to the deputy speaker of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, officials of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), residents questioned why hydropower projects launched over the past 12 years havd remained incomplete or failed to provide a reliable electricity supply.
They questioned whether technical shortcomings in feasibility studies, project design, construction and maintenance were responsible for the repeated delays and asked why such problems were not addressed in time.
They said the prolonged electricity shortage had severely affected education, economic activity and basic public services in the area. Students are reportedly forced to rely on candles and solar lights for studying at night, while local businesses and employment opportunities have also suffered.
The residents said health centres and other essential services had been adversely affected by the lack of reliable electricity.
The residents called on Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi, as an elected representative of the area, to explain what practical steps had been taken to address the 12-year delay and seek answers from the relevant departments.
They also urged PEDO to publicly clarify the reasons behind the slow progress and provide transparent details of how funds allocated to the projects over the past 12 years hadbeen utilised.
The residents demanded an independent and transparent technical and financial audit of all stalled or failed hydropower projects in Yarkhun.
They further called for emergency measures, including the deployment of funds and technical teams, to restore the projects on a permanent and sustainable basis instead of relying on temporary repairs.
They also demanded that authorities announce a clear deadline for ensuring a continuous electricity supply to the affected communities.
The residents said they could no longer afford further delays and assurances, urging elected representatives and relevant institutions to treat the issue as a priority and fulfil their responsibilities.
It may be mentioned here that In 2014, the KP government decided to construct 356 community-based micro hydel stations in the province through NGOs, costing Rs4.7 billion from the Hydel Development Funds (HDF).
These mini-stations were to be constructed in Abbottabad, Mansehra, Batagram, Torghar, Kohistan, Malakand, Buner, Swat, Shangla, Dir (Upper) and Chitral, having total capacity of 35 MW.
In Chitral, the contract for the establishment of scores of such powerhouses had been awarded to the AKRSP. However, many of the powerhouses gave still not been completed.
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