Reviewing the pace of construction work on the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP), Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Zafar Mahmood has urged upon the project authorities to further expedite their efforts, so that the strategically important project could come on line in accordance with the revised completion schedule.
He expressed these views during his visit to rock burst-torn Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) site at Mujhoi, Jhelum Valley in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. NJHP Chief Executive Officer Engineer Muhammad Zubair, Project Director, the consultants and the contractors also accompanied him during the visit. As per revised schedule, first generating unit of the project is expected to be completed in July 2017, whereas the remaining three units will come on line by the end of 2017 in various phases.
The Chairman appreciated the unflinching commitment and devotion of the project authorities in implementing this extremely precarious project. He said that most of the critical targets relating to construction of the project had been successfully achieved, therefore, Wapda was confident to complete the project as per the timelines. During the visit, the Chairman also witnessed excavation of tunnel through the TBM at rock burst site. He was briefed that the TBM, affected in 31 May 2015 due to severe rock-burst phenomenon, was restored on January 9.
The Chief Executive Officer apprised the Chairman that both TBMs deployed at the project had been functioning satisfactorily. He further informed the Chairman that installation of three hydraulic gates at the dam site (Nauseri, Neelum Valley) shall be completed by March 15. Overall progress on the project is 78.5 percent, he added. It is pertinent to mention that Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Company is constructing a world class underground power generation facility. The project envisages 90 percent construction work under high mountainous overburden and only 10 percent above the surface. The project, on its completion, will contribute 5.15 billion units of low-cost and environment friendly electricity to the national grid.
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