Kangan, Jan 1: Though there are three power projects in district Ganderbal, but the continued negligence of the government towards their maintenance has brought down their generating capacity from 142 Megawatt to 37 Megawatt only.
 The three power projects are: “Ganderbal Hydro power project of 15-MW, USHP-1st Sumbal of 22-MW and USHP-2nd Kangan of 105-MW.”
 One of the oldest power projects of the Valley and first power project of the district, Ganderbal Hydro-Power Project, established in 1955, once used to generate 18-MW of power is now able to generate mere 1 MW of the power,” said an official wishing anonymity. 
 He said authorities not paying much heed towards maintaining the power project has led to the project virtually becoming defunct.
 Another power house (USHP-1st Sumbal of 22-MW) that was commissioned in 1973 with the generating capacity of 22-MW presently generates just 5-MW of power. Till date authorities have not paid any heed to get the dead machinery of the project repaired.
 The government, more than a decade back managed to commission yet another power house in the district in Kangan Tehsil. The project-Upper Sindh Hydel Power Project– II (USHP-II) was set up in 2001 at Kangan with the generating capacity of 105-MW.
 But this 105-MW capacity due to repeated technical snags also lost its sheen and at present the power project generates 30- MW of power.
 A breach in Wangat link canal at Panzin village a few years ago had damaged the power project. “Had government got it repaired at the same time the condition of the power project could have been better,” locals said. 
 Residents now are waiting for the commissioning of 93-MW New Ganderbal Power Project. For this new project, the tenders have also been issued and the alignment done but for unknown reasons the authorities have failed to kick start the work on this project.
 Pertinently, the work on this power project had started in 1991-92. Since then two decades have passed but project is still incomplete.
 Residents have appealed Chief Minister to intervene personally and make Ganderbal district a model district as far as power generation is concerned. 

Reports compiled by
SHEIKH NAZIR

Lastupdate on : Tue, 1 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
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