People of Gilgit city and its suburbs were facing acute shortage of electricity load-shedding for the last five days and only four hours electricity was being provided to the consumers out of 24 hours. According to the details, water and power department of the regional government had suspended electricity from the 18 Megawatts Nultar power project due to the reported reason that a heavy boulder had hit the water channel of the power project and damaged it due to which electricity supply was not possible from the said power house, where-as maintenance work at the site of power house was continue and it was expected that repair/maintenance work of the water channel and power house would be completed during the next two-three days and supply of electricity from the said power house would be commenced. It may be pertinent to mention here that residents of Gilgit city were blaming that due to not preparing the design of the power houses on professional basis, outdated machinery of the power house, mismanagement and financial embezzlement on part of concern department were the reasons of power outrage in the capital city of the region.
Gilgit-Balsitan was being considered a water hub of the country, but the people of the area were facing acute shortage of electricity and they were facing 20 hours load-shedding before the commencing of winter season, where-as consumers of Gilgit city and its suburbs were getting only four hours electricity for the last five days due to damage of water channel of the 18 MegawattsNultar power project. As per available details, water and power department of the regional government has claimed that the water channel of 18 megawattsNultar power house was hit by a heavy boulder due to which water channel was damaged and supply of electricity from the said power house was suspended. Now the concern department was being carried out the maintenance and repair work of the water channel, which would be completed during the next-two or three days and thereafter, electricity supply would be started from the said power house and consumers would be able to get relief in this regard. It may be pertinent to mention here that portfolio holders of the regional government were time and again claimed that civil work of the 16 MegawattsNultar power project would be completed by the end of October 2024, where-as 9.6 megawatts electricity wouldbe included in the system during the month of October 2024 and people of the area would get the relief during the winter season. It may be premature to comment upon the matter whether the concern department of the regional government would be able to achieve the target of 16 Megawatts power project of Nultar or not, but it is loud and clear that people of the region would face worst type of load-shedding during the winter season, if the additional electricity may not be included in the system by utilizing alternate sources. Moreover, it was constantly pointed out in these pages that power houses were being constructed on small water streams and Nulllahs instead of run of rivers as well as non-selection of sites of the power houses after carrying out proper feasibility study and other attending circumstances, these power houses were often affected and consumers have to face the hours longelectricity load-shedding, therefore, this policy of the department is required to be revised and in future power houses have to be constructed over the run of rivers instead of small stream Nulllahs.
We would urge the concern department of the government to complete the repair/ maintenance work of 18 megawatts power house water channel as soon as possible besides taking other necessary measures so that additional electricity could be included in the system before the commencing of winter season.
