Construction work on the 50MW Atta Abad Lake hydropower project in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) is likely to begin next year upon completion of feasibility studies, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has announced.
During a visit to the project site, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) said the project – located on the River Hunza – will prove to be instrumental in meeting the electricity demand of Hunza and Nagar valleys, triggering economic activities and improving tourism facilities in the area.
WAPDA has released funding of Rs.22 million to carry out the feasibility studies for the project, with completion of these expected in the first quarter of 2021. Once complete, detailed engineering will begin, contracts will be awarded and construction can start, with the project expected to be complete within four years.
Initial survey work has been substantially finalized at the project site, while the teams for neo-tectonic survey and geological mapping have been mobilized. In addition, detailed sub-surface geotechnical investigations and hydrographic survey have also been initiated.
