WAPDA to complete 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum project in time

Official sources told APP that the project, besides generating much-needed hydel electricity in the country, is also of immense importance for Pakistan to establish priority water rights.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, they said the project is an excellent opportunity for socio-economic uplift of the local populace by providing them job opportunities and boosting other economic activities in the area.

The sources said two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) were also imported from Germany to complete the project in time, saying that these machines have already been made functional on the project.

Out of total 67-kilometre tunnels, over 33 kilometres long tunnels have been excavated, while excavation of under-ground power house stands at over 70 percent and transformers hall at 95 per cent.

De-sander of the project is over 88 per cent and the Nauseri bridge is 100 per cent complete, they added.

The Power House of the project is located in the Chattar Kalass, 22 kms south of Muzaffarabad. Installed capacity of the project is 969 MW comprising four units of 240 MW each.

The original cost of the project was Rs 130 billion but the revised PC-1 cost of the project was put at Rs 274.882 billion as it has escalated due to change in design and machinery requirement owing to the earthquake of 2005.

Neelum Jehlum Hydro electric Project envisages the diversion of Neelum river water through a tunnel and after producing power, out-falling into Jehlum river.

The government is paying special attention to development of infrastructure projects in the country and the allocation of Rs. 1.1 trillion in Public Sector Project Programme (PSDP) in the FY 2013-14 is a clear manifestation of government's commitment on this count.

The Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, on completion, will contribute 5.15 billion units of low-cost electricity to the national grid every year. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at about Rs 45 billion.