Chairman WAPDA visits Neelum Jhelum Project

Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) visited the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project. He reached the Dam (Weir) site of the Project located at Nauseri, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The Chairman visited the de-watered head race tunnel in detail to inspect and review any damages that may have occurred to it. He was accompanied by the Project Manager, Neelum Jhelum Consultants, James Stevenson.

The Consultants, the Contractors and the Project Team briefed the Chairman about the progress achieved so far. It was briefed that the de-watering of a 48-km long head race tunnel has been completed from 1012 feet to 607 feet above mean sea level. Subsequently, inspection of the head race tunnel has commenced. The process for engaging International Experts has also been initiated, as directed by the Prime Minister during his visit to the Project last month. The International Experts will ascertain the causes of the fault in the headrace tunnel and make recommendations for carrying out the remedial works.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman directed the Project Management to chalk out a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy once the detailed inspection of the headrace tunnel is done and the recommendations are made by the International Experts. He emphasized that the team should adhere to all precautionary measures while carrying out the inspection of the headrace tunnel.

It is important to note that the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project was constructed in a weak geological and seismic-prone area. Last month, a decrease in headrace tunnel pressure suspended electricity generation from the project. Prior to its suspension, the Project had provided more than 20 billion units of clean and green electricity to the National Grid since 2018.