Rs2.2bn approved for Chitral Hydel Power Station's capacity enhancement

ISLAMABAD: The government has approved a project worth Rs 2.2 billion to enhance capacity of Chitral Hydel Power Station from one Megawatt to five megawatt.

The capacity enhancement project had been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its recently held meeting, official sources in the ministry of planning, development and reforms here on Wednesday said.

The PC-I of the project had been submitted to the Ministry of Water and Power after the power demand in Chitral area increased and there was a dire need to upgrade the capacity of existing Hydel Power Station at Chitral.

The concept paper of the project was forwarded to Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms on November 11, 2014 for approval.

The existing 1.0 MW Chitral Hydel Power Station was located on the right bank of Lutkho River, 5 Km upstream of Chitral City.

The Project was commissioned in 1975 by diverting the flows of Lutkho River through 3.72 Km long channel and installing two units of 200 KW and two units of 300 KW each.

The power generated from Chitral Hydel Power Station was supplied to Chitral City through 11 KV Transmission Line.

In the initial construction phase of Project, limited flows of Lutkho River were diverted to Power Channel for generation of 1 MW only.

However the river had abundant flows which could be utilized for Power Generation by constructing a small diversion weir, remodeling of power channel and fore bay and installation of new penstocks and additional units. It was estimated that the power could be enhanced up to five MW.

WAPDA had preliminary studies for the proposed up-gradation. Topographic Survey, Geological Mapping for weir Intake, Power Channel and Power House areas and drilling at weir and Power House area were carried out. Tender Design Report had been completed by Hydro Planning WAPDA in May, 2012.

The estimated cost of the project was US$ 15 million and completion time was three years.