CHITRAL: Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Power Taj Mohammad Khan has said that an amount of Rs2 billion has been earmarked for setting up small hydropower projects in 21 districts.

Addressing a gathering in Kalash valley Bumburate after inaugurating a mini hydropower project, he said that the project of promoting small hydropower was being extended to 21 districts keeping in view the success of its first phase in 11 districts of the province.

He said that development of the hydropower potential was a part of ‘clean and green Pakistan’ vision envisaged by Prime Minister Imran Khan. It was not only environment-friendly but also cheaper, he added.

Mr Khan said that in the second phase of the project, 100 areas and population of both lower and upper parts of Chitral would be targeted by optimum exploitation of the galore of hydropower potential.

He said that during the forthcoming phase, projects of medium and large size would be preferred over the micro and mini hydropower projects with capacity of above 500 kilowatts. He added that local communities should come forward with identification of the sites for the projects.

He said that mechanism was being devised to make the power projects sustainable so that they might run for long time with the due participation of the local communities.

Mr Khan said that the ten billion trees tsunami project was also an earnest effort of the government for conservation of environment that met with such tremendous success that it was being quoted as model in the neighbouring countries for slowing down climate change phenomenon.

The special assistant to chief minister on minorities, Wazir Zada, also addressed the gathering and claimed that government had taken into account the miseries of the dwellers of Kalash valleys for the first time.

He said that Imran Khan nominated a Kalash as member of provincial assembly and then elevated him to the provincial cabinet so that he might be able to work for the speedy development of the valleys.

He said that a hefty amount of Rs4.65 billion was approved for construction of Kalash valleys road while another amount of Rs2 billion was approved for acquisition of land for the road project that would promote tourism in the area.

The chief executive officer of Pakhunkhwa Energy Development Organisation, Naeem Khan, and regional programme manager of Agha Khan Rural Support Programme Zahoor Aman Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Earlier, the special assistant to the chief minister on energy visited different areas of the district including Sheshi Koh valley, Lot Koh, Garam Chashma and Rumbur valley to inspect the power projects.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021