Golen Gol Hydropower Project, a game changer for Chitral

?.. by Khalid Pervaiz

The Golen Gol Hydropower Project with a generation capacity of 108 Megawatts will prove a game changer in the socioeconomic development of Chitral.??Out of the three units with 36Mwatts generation capacity each, power supply to both the upper and the lower part of Chitral started after the first unit was formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The energy -strapped Chitralis celebrated the occasion as a red-letter day in the history of Chitral amid much fanfare of jubilation and thanksgiving. Irrespective of party affiliations, the majority of Chitral is all praise for the MNA Chitral Shahzada Iftikharuddin for his leadership qualities to address the core issues confronting the people of Chitral especially electrifying Chitral from Golen Gol power project.

?The pledge for uninterrupted power supply to Chitral reiterated by the PM in his inaugural address will rid the people of Chitral of the sky-rocketing prices on purchases of daily use edibles and other commodities from the market. More so, the patients seeking medical treatment will have their blood samples tested at minimal rates from private clinics.??The photocopiers whimsically charging the customers will have no reason to fleece the masses after reverting to the electric powered Photostat machines. Taking undue advantage of power shortage, the car wash centers, the sawmill owners, grinding mill owners, the auto mechanics and furniture manufacturers have been relentlessly looting the common man with both hands.

Ominously, the power shortage always remained a stumbling block for students and academics alike in achieving academic progress.??the electrification of Chitral will provide a lifeline for intellectual enhancement and academic excellence. The 24/7 power will open up a flood of information to them via the internet keeping them abreast of the happenings around the globe at fingertips. The academic institutions will conduct their academic activities ranging from lectures and seminars to laboratory experiments smoothly utilizing the electric powered gadgets and multimedia projectors. These institutions have been incurring a huge loss both academically and financially as a result of power shortage.

Most importantly, the threats posed by environmental degradation will hopefully be averted. Presently, the people of Chitral are heavily depending on forest wood as fuel for domestic use. The availability of electric power at affordable rates will enable them to switch to electric powered heaters and cooking appliances. In the result, the depleting forest cover will be conveniently preserved to offset the worse impacts of devasting floods and landslides. The idea was first floated by Capt. Siraj Ulmulk on the social media and an overwhelming majority of people seconded the idea and urge him to use his influence to procure electric power for Chitral at concessional rate. The Golen Gol Power House will not only suffice to overcome the power crisis in Chitral but add much to the national grid to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Pakistan arising out of the power deficit in the country. .. Khalid Pervaiz, Booni, Chitral, 05 Feb 2018

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