Staff Reporter
Peshawar
The government has expedited work on 13 energy projects having an estimated cost of Rs10,539.73 million in merged tribal districts and completed 311 mini macro hydropower projects (MMHPPs) in northern districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
“Out of Rs10,539.73 million, Rs6495.07 million have been spent during 2019-20 and Rs4044.66 million allocated for 2020-21 out of which Rs 680.384 million released during current fiscal year for these 13 projects underway in merged tribal districts,” Malik Luqman Khan, Senior Planning Officer (SPO), Energy and Power Department told APP on Tuesday.
Under Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP), he said work on up-gradation of four 66 KV grid stations including Sadda, Alizai in Kurram district, Kalaya and Ghiljo in Orakzai district besides bifurcation of 50 overload feeders, rehabilitation of 30 existing feeders and 15 new feeders expedited that would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 5161.83 million.
Out of Rs5161.83 million, he said Rs 3596.21 million was spent during 2019-20, adding Rs1565.62 million were allocated for 2020-21 out of which Rs477.732 million released so far for these AIP schemes.
While referring to Annual Development Programme (ADP) schemes, he said work on 440 new village electrification schemes and rehabilitation of existing system were speeded up in all merged tribal districts and former frontier regions besides construction of 132 KV grid station in Mohmand with an estimated cost of Rs2517.73 million out of which Rs1981.49 million were spent during 2019-20 and Rs 536.24 million allocated for 2020-21 out of which Rs2020.652 million were released so far.
About USAID schemes, the official said rehabilitation of Makeen and Tairzai areas, bifurcation and interlinking 11KV feeders, 132KP GSS Khar Bajaur district and 132KV GSS Jandola along with transmission line projects having an estimated cost of Rs2860.17 million would help improve energy situation in merged tribal districts. Out of Rs2860.17 million funds, he said Rs 917.37 million were spent during 2019-20 whereas Rs4044.66 million were allocated for 2020-21 out of which Rs680.384 million were released so far.
These projects after completion would help address problem of overloading on 11 KV lines, 132 KV transmission lines and grid stations and electrification facilities to additional 18pc population of merged areas would be provided.
Similarly, construction work on 10.5MW Chapri Charkhel HPP in Kurram tribal district worth Rs4.378 billion having generation capacity of 73.56GHW and Rs838.41 million annual revenue, have been launched besides mini macro schemes worth Rs838 million having about 3,000 KW generation capacity in merged districts are in various stages of implementation.
He said (PM ACENIP worth Rs18 billion had been initiated with financial assistance of ADB under which 1,028 mini macro HPPs are being constructed in two phases in northern districts of the province.
