CHITRAL: A consultant firm engaged by the irrigation department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for preparing the feasibility study of an irrigation scheme in upper Chitral has recommended linking the scheme’s tunnel to a proposed hydropower project to make it cost-effective and more productive.

As per a report submitted by the firm to the irrigation department, the firm proposed a 5.8 kilometer long tunnel from the right side of the Terich River to cultivate 15,140 acres of arid land in Mulkhow union council.

The report also proposed that same tunnel could be used for the irrigation and the proposed hydropower projects. The proposal, if implemented, would enhance the generation capacity of the power project to 200MW, as the project’s head would get an elevation of many thousands feet, besides, cutting construction, operation and maintenance cost of the latter project by more than a half.

It is to mention here that the feasibility study of the 145MW Shushgal-Zandoli Hydropower Project was completed by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) many years ago for which an 8.5km long tunnel was proposed.

A source in the irrigation department said the merger of the two projects would save billions of rupees on one hand and would also cut short completion period of the largest hydropower project of the district.

MPA from upper Chitral, Syed Sardar Hussain Shah said the idea of constructing a single tunnel for the two projects was marvelous and termed it ‘killing two birds with one stone’. He said he would take up the proposal with the government.

EXHIBITION: A two-day art, craft and cuisine exhibition started here on Saturday organised by a local organisation ‘Drug Addict Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Cultural Society (DDRCS) with the financial assistance of Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chitral Deputy Commissioner Osama Ahmed Warraich said the local art and craft coupled with cuisine of Chitral and the Kalash valleys had no parallel which were partly indigenous and partly central Asian in origin.

He also extended invitation to the participants of the exhibition to set up their stalls in Chitral Festival scheduled to be held next week.

Earlier, the organiser of the exhibition, Meherban Khan said the aim of the exhibition was to provide opportunity to develop a link between the market and the local artisans and preserve the indigenous culture of the communities of Hindukush region.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2016