Local Engineers completed 800 ft long tunnel for 600 KV hydro power station.
By: Gul Hamaad Farooqi
CHITRAL: Work started on 600 KV hydro power house at Sewakht village of Shughoor valley. Chitral witnessed a new era in micro hydel development sector when a local private power company, Green Alternative Power (GAP) Pvt. Limited, made it through 800 ft long tunnel water channel to run a micro hydro power station producing 600 KW electricity in Siwakht, Shoghor village of Karimabad valley. The tunnel, first of its nature by local private entity, symbolizes the commitment to development of Chitral people on self help basis when people around the country react to the energy shortfall through protests and destruction. The tunnel of 7 ft diameter was a joint venture of the local communities, GAP and
the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP), where GAP provided technical support to the project funded by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). GAP is a Private Limited Company based in Chitral with a variety of services related to the implementation, production and distribution of renewable energy especially the Hydro Power. With company has extensive experience of installing and maintaining micro and mini hydro projects in Chitral and Afghanistan The micro hydro power Project, providing electricity to 9 villages of Karimabad valley of Lotkoh area, will be managed by the local community based power committee with the technical support of any energy company hired at local or national level.
The project will prove a milestone to the GAP commitment for larger projects and its efforts to work on the next generation energy solutions for sustainable livelihood and to make energy work for low income families and households. On Completion of 800 feet long tunnel a thanks giving day and a function was held at Sewakht village. Regional program Manager of AKRSP Engineer Sardar Ayub was chief guest on the occasion. Addressing to the participants Eng. Sardar Ayub said that PPAF provided 68 million fund for this purpose while community put their share of 10 million. There are two tunnels 800 and 115 feet long which were totally completed by local engineers without any casualty or loss. At first phase it will provide 500 KV electricity to 11000 people which will be augmentation to 600 KV and will be complete within stipulated period of 2 years. A local woman told this scribe that there was no electricity in the valley and were living in dark while this power house will bring light in our lives at first time and we will be able to utilize home electric appliances as well as computer and internet etc. A large number of people attended the inauguration cum thanks giving day of tunnel and 600 KV hydro power station.
. The micro hydel Project, providing electricity to 9 villages of Karimabad valley of Lotkoh area, will be managed by the local community based power committee with the technical support of any energy company hired at local or national level. The project will prove a milestone to the GAP commitment for larger projects and its efforts to work on the next generation energy solutions for sustainable livelihood and to make energy work for low income families
and households.
G.H. Farooqi C/O Manager bank Islami Main branch Chitral phone No 0943-320737, 0943-316052, 0943-414418 , 03025989602, 03337069572, 03159698446, 03469002167
email: gulhamad@gmail.com
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