GILGIT-BALTISTAN,: In a significant development, the Gilgit-Baltistan Development Working Party (GB-DWP) has approved a slew of crucial projects, including the revision of three power projects and the expansion of the Hansel Power Project. The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, also greenlighted the revision of the water supply scheme for Gilgit city.
The Hansel Power Project’s capacity will be doubled from 20 MW to 40 MW, a move that will significantly enhance the region’s power generation capabilities. This project, estimated to cost an additional 7 billion 53 crore rupees, has been recommended for final approval from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECNIC).
In addition, the GB-DWP approved the revision of three hydropower projects: the one megawatt Gas Chilas Hydropower Project (costing 583.7 million 16 thousand), the 1 MW Hydropower Project Manikal Diamer (costing 447.2 lakh 30 thousand), and the 1.5 MW Hydropower Project Raikot Mathat Chilas (costing 55 crore 70 lakh 54 thousand).
Furthermore, the Gilgit Development Authority’s revision plan for the water supply project from Gilgit city to Kanudas to Chhalmasdas, estimated at 55 crore 33 lakh 53 thousand, was also approved. This project aims to provide clean drinking water to the residents of Gilgit city.
Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan emphasized the importance of stringent consultancy and monitoring mechanisms for mega public interest projects. He stressed that poor consultancy and ineffective monitoring often lead to delays and unnecessary revisions, causing substantial financial losses. He also advocated for stricter accountability measures to improve the efficiency of the Electronics Department, which handles most of Gilgit-Baltistan’s development budget.
The approval of these projects marks a positive step towards the socioeconomic development and infrastructure enhancement of Gilgit-Baltistan. These initiatives are expected to improve the lives of the region’s residents and bolster its economic prospects.
