CHITRAL: The micro and mini hydro power projects (MMHPPs) of the energy department of the provincial government are far behind meeting their target of generating 6.275MW of electricity by the deadline of June 30 as current generation stands at only 2.325MW.

According to information gathered by Dawn under Right to Information Act, 2013, on August 2014, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) had been awarded the contract of constructing 55 MMHPPs in Chitral district at a cost of Rs1 billion which had to generate 6.275MW electricity.

The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (Pedo), the executing agency of the project, has so far paid 62 per cent of the total cost of the contract to AKRSP, but only 37 per cent of the project has been completed. Initially, the contract was for two years which was extended for the second time last year, but its completion seems impossible this time as well, as only two months are left in the deadline of June 30.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2018