CHITRAL: The Sarhad Rural Support Programme on Sunday opened two small hydro-power houses in northern Rech village of Chitral district.

Built under the European Union-funded SRSP Economic Advancement and Community Empowerment (PEACE) project at a cost of Rs23.532 million, the power stations of 100 kilowatts each will electrify all 432 house of the village.

SRSP chief executive officer Shahzada Masoodul Mulk was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremonies, where scores of people were in attendance.

The local community’s representatives Ali Haider and Nadir Khan declared power stations a precious gift of the SRSP for Rech villagers and said the programme deserved praise for completing the project well before the start of the winter season.

They said the supply of electricity would usher in a new era of progress and development in the area.

The local community members said villagers had a miserable life in the extended severe winter season due to acute shortage of firewood but the two power stations had ended their misery once and for all.

They said villagers would use electricity to cook food and heat houses.

The local community members thanked the EU for building hydro-power projects.

On the occasion, the SRSP chief said power houses had been handed over to the local community on the principle of social enterprise and therefore, the income generated by them would be spent on development initiatives and interventions deemed fit by the community.

He urged the local community to run the projects efficiently and qualify for other development projects funded by donor agencies.

SRSP district programme manager Tariq Ahmad and senior Peace project managers also attended the ceremonies.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016