300MW Balakot hydropower project: Land acquisition begins

The district administration has begun acquiring over 8,000 kanals of land for the 300MW Balakot hydropower project.

“Land acquisition is being made for the energy project executed by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation on the Kunhar River in Kaghan valley.”

Dr Qasim Ali Khan

The provincial government had given a go-ahead to the 300MW Balakot Hydropower project in March. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved $750 million for it.

The deputy commissioner, who is also the district collector, said following the imposition of Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, other formalities were being completed to pay the payments to owners whose land was being acquired in four patwar circles of the Balakot tehsil.

“We have been acquiring land in Bala Schain, Paras, Ghanool and Sangar patwar circles and the district revenue department teams are actively pursuing the task in their respective areas,” he said.

The bidding and contractor hiring for the project has already been completed, while a consortium of companies for it has been finalised.

The Pedo will execute the project on the Kunhar River downstream with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank.