Naltar Valley Faces Long Delays in Hydropower Projects, Residents Suffer
The administration in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) has failed to complete the Naltar Hydropower Project, leaving residents without basic amenities like clean water and electricity. The project, started in 2009, was supposed to provide 16 MW of electricity but remains unfinished.
A local leader from Naltar Valley stated, “Even in the winters, when the demand for electricity is high due to the cold, the people in PoGB face severe load shedding of around 22 hours. The project was initiated in 2009 to provide electricity to the local people. But it is 2024 now and the situation has not changed yet, as the project is still not finished.”
According to the local news source WTV News, the administration had claimed the project would be completed by October this year. However, the local leader believes it won’t be finished before next year, if at all.
Another delayed project, the 20 MW Hanzel Hydropower Project, also remains incomplete. The local leader added, “These projects would have served the people a lot but none of these projects are complete. The government did not keep pace with the construction despite knowing the problem of severe load shedding. These projects, if completed, would have given a lot of relief to the people but now I believe that the people will have to face load shedding for the upcoming winter.”
Doubts Revealed
Naltar Valley -: Naltar Valley is a beautiful place in the mountains of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. It’s known for its scenic beauty and ski resorts.
Hydropower Projects -: Hydropower projects use the energy of flowing water to generate electricity. They are important for providing power to homes and businesses.
Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) -: This is a region in the northern part of Pakistan. It is known for its high mountains and beautiful valleys.
16 MW of electricity -: MW stands for megawatt, a unit of power. 16 MW means the project was supposed to generate enough electricity to power many homes and businesses.
Load Shedding -: Load shedding means turning off the electricity supply in certain areas to save power. It happens when there isn’t enough electricity to go around.
Hanzel Hydropower Project -: This is another project in the same region meant to generate 20 MW of electricity. Like the Naltar project, it is also not finished yet.
