MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 12: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has agreed to construct 10 grid stations of 132 kilowatt each in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, an AJK official told a group of reporters here on Friday.

The official said the decision to this effect was taken at a recent meeting between the AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and chairman Wapda Lt-Gen Zulfikar Ali Khan.

The prime minister had drawn the attention of the Wapda chief towards the poor power supply and shortage of voltage in some particular areas of Azad Kashmir due to non-existence of grid stations whose construction, according to Azad Jammu and Kashmir electricity department, was Wapda’s responsibility.

“The people of Azad Kashmir must get the reward of the broadmindedness and magnanimity shown by them regarding the extension of Mangla Dam,” the source quoted AJK premier having said at the meeting with the Wapda chairman.

The grid stations would be built in Dadyal (Mirpur district), Khuiratta, Nakyal (Kotli district), Bagh and Mang (Poonch district) in first phase, and in Garhi Dopatta (Muzaffarabad district), Hajira (Poonch district), Tarar Khal (Sudhnoti district) and Sensa (Kotli district) in the second phase, the official said.

He said that the Azad Kashmir government had specified the place of land for the construction of the grid stations.