PESHAWAR: The government has planned to inaugurate work on the Rs2 billion projects meant for the development of power infrastructure in the merged tribal districts under the 10-year development plan and annual development plan in the current month.

The projects include the construction of 76 new 11kv feeders, rehabilitation of 59 11kv feeders, and electrification of villages in all merged districts, said a statement issued here on Monday.

Chairing a meeting called here to review the Tesco projects in tribal districts, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the relevant officials to expedite work on the projects executed for electric supply to the erstwhile Fata.

He said funds had been released to the Tesco to upgrade grid stations, transmission lines and 11kv feeders in merged districts.

The officials told the chief minister that the projects under the Ten Years Development Plan would cost Rs2.04 billion and of the required funds, Rs1.43 billion had been released for the start of work on the projects planned for Bajaur, Mohmand, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram districts, and FRs Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Lakki, DI Khan and Tank.

They also said Rs419 million had been released for the electrification of 440 villages in all districts and FRs under the ADP.

The officials said the projects being executed on an emergency basis included the rehabilitation of Makeen and Tiarza areas in South Waziristan, bifurcation of four 11kv feeders and interlinking of eight 11kv feeders with 132kv new grid station in Khar, Bajaur, and upgradation of 66kv grid stations in Khar and Jandola to 132kv.

They also said of the total amount of Rs3.093 billion for the 10 years development plan, Rs2.165 billion had been released to upgrade 66kv grid stations in Orakzai and Kurram districts.

The officials said the construction of 132kv grid station along with the associated 132kv transmission line in northern Mohmand at an estimated cost of Rs845 million, the augmentation of power transformers in Miramshah and Razmak grid stations, addition of one 40mva power transformer along with transformer bay at 132kv Bara grid station had also been included in the ADP.

The CM said the development of power infrastructure and its capacity was of paramount importance to provide basic services, immediate relief to the residents, and materialise development projects in tribal districts.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2019