PESHAWAR, Dec 12: The Water and Power Development Authority and the NWFP government reached an agreement to streamline the power distribution system in Chitral district, here on Wednesday.

As per the agreement, Wapda would now manage power distribution system covering Darosh to Chitral proper — previously managed by the provincial public sector Sarhad Hydel Development Organization (Shydo).

The power distribution from Chitral to Booni (upper Chitral) would now be the responsibility of the Shydo in place of Wapda as was the case till now.

Brig Khalid, chief executive of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company, said at a press briefing that an agreement to this effect was properly signed by representatives of Wapda and the NWFP government at his office here on Wednesday.

The Pesco chief represented the Wapda whereas secretary power department, NWFP, and managing director, Shydo, jointly represented the provincial government on the occasion of signing of agreement.

As per agreement the change of hands of managements of both the distribution systems — from Darosh to Chitral and from Chitral to Booni — apart from the bifurcation of both the distribution systems would be completed by Dec 25, 2001.

Under the new arrangement, Shydo would take over, on lease basis, the assets Wapda has developed to provide electricity from Chitral to Booni. Whereas, those established by Shydo to distribute electricity from Darosh to Chitral would be taken over by Wapda [on lease basis].

At the press briefing the Pesco chief claimed that the new arrangement would help improve power supply in the remote Chitral district ending wastage of hydel power generated by the Shydo- owned Reshun hydel power generation unit for the last two years.

With Darosh to Chitral power distribution system having been taken over by Pesco, Chitral town would get connected with the national grid and it would, now, be supplied power directly from the main grid apart from bringing under utilization power generated by the Reshun hydel power generation unit.

“There would now be round the clock power supply to Chitral as the area [lower Chitral] would get power supply directly from the national grid apart from the Reshun hydel power unit,” said Brig Khalid.

Similarly, upper Chitral [Chitral to Booni and adjoining areas] would get electricity from the Reshun hydel power unit after Shydo takes over the Chitral to Booni power distribution system from Dec 25 under the new arrangement.

Under the previous arrangement — when Wapda was holding the management of Chitral to Booni power distribution system — the upper Chitral area relied on power generated through diesel run generators.

“With the upper Chitral getting connected with the Reshun hydel power unit the area would be able to get round the clock,” said the Pesco chief.

He told the newsmen that Wapda and NWFP government properly inked an agreement, on Wednesday, thereby former would purchase power being generated by the Reshun hydel power unit having power generation capacity of 2.8 MW that could be raised upto 4.2 MW by installing an additional power generation unit of 1.4 MW.

The agreement between the two organizations had been reached some six months ago during a meeting between the Wapda chairman and the governor of NWFP. “Though the agreement was signed on Wednesday, the arrangement is already under implementation for the last six months,” said the Pesco chief. According to agreement, Wapda would pay to Shydo Rs1.4 per unit it would get from the Reshun power unit.