LAHORE, July 15: Senior Minister Raja Riaz has said the Punjab government will build five hydel power plants by December 2011 with $65 million funding from the Asian Development Bank.

Talking to a delegation of the University of Engineering and Technology students at the Irrigation headquarters here on Tuesday, he said the government would contribute 20 per cent share ($13 million) to the project. A total of 24.8 megawatt electricity would be produced.

He said Rs462 million would be spent on 3.2 MW Pakpattan Hydropower Project, Rs692 million on 4 MW Okara Hydropower Project, Rs676 million on 5 MW Deg Outfall (near Sheikhupura) Hydropower Project, Rs822 million on 5.4 MW Chianwali Hydropower Project and Rs1,064 million on 7.2 MW Marala Hydropower Project.