PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is hopeful of the early resumption of work on transmission lines of two hydropower projects, which has delayed for over five months after both projects were completed earlier in June 2015.

The relevant officials told Dawn that the 17 megawatts Ranolia Khwar project in Kohistan district and 2.5 megawatts Machai Canal Mardan project were both completed in June but had yet to be connected to national grid despite the severe energy crisis faced by the country.

An official at the KP energy and power department said they had also paid the ‘deposit work’ money to the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NDTC) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) for laying transmission lines.

“The NDTC has been tasked with laying transmission lines of Ranolia power project in Kohistan, while the Pesco will work on Machai,” he said.

The official said the NDTC was not able to resume work on lying transmission lines of the Ranolia power project due to stay orders three local residents obtained from the courts seeking diversion of proposed transmission lines, saying it would damage their homes.

He said few days ago, Peshawar High Court (PHC) vacated one of the stay orders and two other were being heard by courts in Kohistan.

“Some days ago, Kohistan’s local Jirga led by PK-61 MPA Abdul Haq Khan met the chief minister and assured him that both local residents would withdraw their cases,” he said.

Khattak assured the delegation that the people affected by projects would be compensated for their losses.

The official hoped that NDTC would start work on 220kv line soon after these cases are withdrawn.

On the other hand, the Pesco has also not begun work on lying down transmission line of the Machai Canal power project due to one or other reason so far despite it has been paid Rs53 million.

The official said that last month, the Pesco also assured that it would soon start work on lying transmission lines to connect the project with national grid.

A Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) official requesting anonymity told Dawn that a local court in Kohistan would decide status of a case on Wednesday (today) and it was likely to be quashed.

He said they were they were hopeful the local court would also follow PHC decision, which has vacated the stay sought by a local. “Otherwise, the Jirga has promised vacation of stay orders and chief minister has assured it of adequate compensation,” he said.

He said the PEDO has paid about Rs100 million as cash deposit for lying a kilometer and half of transmission line to connect it with the national grid. Currently the power plant was being tested.

Another PEDO official said Rs53 million had been paid as deposit work for over 12 kilometers long transmission line of Machai Canal power project.

The official said Pesco had earlier in October pledged to PEDO that it would start work on this transmission line soon.

Machai project cost is said to be around Rs663 million.

Officials said the delay in starting work on transmission lines was a loss for the both the province as well as federal government as cheap electricity generated from both projects would save money used on thermal projects.

They said the energy from these projects would serve to save precious foreign exchange of the country, used on importing oil to run thermal power projects.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015