CHITRAL, Feb 20 With the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), two hydropower projects would be completed in the district.

After a meeting of project consultants, district heads of line departments and representatives of NGOs here on Friday, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah told the media that with the completion of the proposed projects, 335MW electricity would be added to the national grid.

One of the proposed projects is in Terich valley with generation capacity of 105MW and the other is at Shoghore with capacity of 130MW. He said that the feasibility study of the projects would be completed within a year for which the services of two separate consultant firms had been obtained.

Mr Shah said that the sites had been identified by the district government three years earlier and it was engaged in searching for donor agencies.

He appreciated the ADB for its 'gracious donation' for the hydro projects which would bring about prosperity in the area as thousands of arid land would be brought under cultivation after completion of the projects.

“There is a tremendous potential of hydro power generation in the district which goes unutilised while it has the capacity to eradicate loadshedding from the country on its exploitation,” he said and added that the situation of tranquillity in the district provided an 'ideal situation' for donors and investors.

The nazim said that the district government had directed all line departments and various NGOs including the Aga Khan Rural Supports Programme (AKRSP) to extend all out cooperation to the consultant firms to ensure completion of the feasibility study timely.

HEAVY SNOW The upper parts of Chitral district received heavy snow during the last 24 hours, residents said.

The intermittent rain and snowfall also struck the lower parts of the district. Roads leading to the distant valleys of Torkhow, Terich, Laspur, Yarkhoon and Oveer had been blocked. PIA flights were also cancelled due to the stormy weather.