Chitral --  Chitral river originates from the Chiantar glacier in the Boroghil region of the Hindukush mountain range. It flows through almost 300 km length of the district before entering Afghanistan at Arandu from where it becomes the kunar river. The irony with the river is that it flows completely unutilised.

The river flows wildly changing its course at will eroding side lands and creating mini deserts (shhotaars) which are of no use. Never has there been any serious attempt to harness the pack of roaring power the Chitral river yields due to its steep gradient and swift flow. All micro hydel plants so far constructed have been based on water from the feeble side streams instead of using the main river for substantial results.

A member of a Chinese geological team here on a private visit, upon seeing the poor condition of electricity in Chitral town agitatedly remarked that "if we have this kind of water, we could supply electricity to the whole world".

 There are excellent locations on the main Chitral river to make mini dams at Kessu, Gahiret, Kushum etc, to generate huge electric power and irrigate the adjoining arid land through canals taken out from these dams.

Will the development agencies working in Chitral, ever look towards utilizing the Chitral river for development purposes is any body's guess but every body's wish.

behre qulzum moujzan charon taraf ,  aur hamaray bakht main shabnam nahin    --CN report, 17 July 2011

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