The 3.2 MW Pak Pattan Canal Hydro Power Project will be constructed on the Pak Pattan Canal, which originates from Satluj River and which has its take-off from the Sulamanki Barrage in Punjab.
According to official sources, the proposed project will be situated at a distance of approximately 10-km from Pak Pattan, the capital of the district. The fall is situated about 2 km to the east of Kumariwala village.
The Pak Pattan Canal Hydropower Project is one of a number of small and medium sized low head hydropower projects in Punjab. Such small schemes will help to extend the national power supply and distribution systems and supply Pakistan's overall energy needs.
The 3.2 MW electricity generated by the proposed power plant is planned to be sold out at site to Wapda, or another buyer to be decided by IPD later on during the course of the project implementation. The installation of the transmission line would be the sole responsibility of Wapda or the other buyer. Hence, this component is not included in this ADB-funded hydropower project.
However, it is planned that the generated electricity will be plugged into the Wapda's Grid Station near Pakpattan, 7 km away from the proposed power plant by means of an 11 KV transmission line. For this purpose, an estimated total of 98 poles would be erected for which would have required the acquisition of 98 m² of land (at 1 m² per pole). But now it has been decided that the transmission line will be constructed totally on the canal bank within its right-of-way, to avoid additional acquisition of private lands and the associated resettlement impacts on the communities on route.
According to the initial joint visit of the IPD staff and the PPTA Consultants of ADB, the originally proposed site on the left bank of the canal was found significantly affecting the local population. To minimise the adverse resettlement impacts, the proposed site for constructing the powerhouse has been shifted to within the canal bed, and a temporary diversion channel is planned to be constructed on the right side of the canal, for keeping the irrigation water running and serving its command area without break. As a result, very little adverse resettlement impacts are expected, as no built-up structures are affected and no land has to be acquired permanently. The land, in total 0.20 ha, necessary for the diversion of the water flow of Pakpattan Canal during the powerhouse construction only needs to be acquired temporarily, for a maximum of three years.
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