LOWER DIR: Amid conflicting claims about the operational status of the Koto hydropower station, a delegation of Dir Think Tank (DTT), a civic body of intellectuals, visited the unit the other day to assess ground realities following reports that power generation had been suspended.

The delegation, led by Ajmal Khan Advocate and Prof Wali Rehman, included social activists Akbar Khan, Ibrash Pasha, former Wapda executive engineer Javed and mediapersons. The visit was aimed at identifying reasons behind delays in making the power station fully operational.

The delegation first inspected the intake site and later examined repair work at the channel box.

Mushtaq Hussain, supervisor of the construction company, informed the team that the project had not yet been formally handed over to the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo).

Under contractual terms, the contractor will remain responsible for addressing any technical faults or repair work for one year.

He pointed out that water seepage in the channel box had caused subsidence at several locations.

Pedo assistant director Mohsin Khan explained that May, June, July and August were high flow months and the unit would generate maximum electricity during this period.

Talking about the delay in its completion, he said the original design would have required demolition of several houses, but following resistance from the local community, the design was altered, shifting the channel from hard rock to filled and agricultural land with softer soil. He said the issue could have been mitigated through soil testing, but the channel subsided within months.

Engineers accompanying the delegation said such issues were not uncommon in hydropower projects, citing the Ghazi Barotha project as an example.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2026