MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 21: The AJK government has approved two small-scale hydropower generation projects in the public sector with a total production capacity of 6.5 megawatts.

The projects to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs1.05 billion will draw Rs200 million to the state exchequer as yearly profit.

According to an official handout, approvals were accorded by executive board of the AJK Hydro-Electric Board at a meeting in Kashmir House on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and attended by his adviser on hydropower generation Raja Yasin Khan, chief secretary Javed Majid, additional chief secretary (development) Mohammad Yousaf, secretary finance Fahimullah Khattak and secretary power Fazal Mahmood Qureshi.

The meeting approved construction work of 4.8MW hydropower generation project on the Bittar Nullah in Bagh district to the Alamdar Engineering Company at a cost of Rs760 million.

The project’s construction work would generate employment opportunities for 300 people and around 60 people would get permanent jobs after its commissioning.

The meeting decided that the project’s groundbreaking ceremony would be held in the first week of December.

The meeting also approved another hydropower project to be built along Dhanna water channel in Kotli district at a cost of Rs290 million.

The project will provide temporary jobs to 200 people during execution and permanent jobs to 50 people after commissioning.