MANDI BAHAUDDIN
Punjab Irrigation Minister Mian Yawar Zaman visited Hydel Power Station Rasul and announced increase of water discharge from 1,000 to 2,000 cusecs to increase power generation from 4 to 12.5 megawatts from the station.
Secretary Irrigation Zahid Saeed, DCO Imtiaz Niazi and Power and Water Coordinator Punjab Shahid Riaz Gondal accompanied the minister. Talking to media persons, the minister said that the Punjab government led by Shahbaz Sharif was working on a war footings to end loadshedding. He added that in this respect, the government had formed a high-level technical committee to consider feasibility of setting up power stations to overcome its shortage.
He said in addition to Rasul Hydel Station, the committee would recommend the setting up of Hydel power Station at Khokhra Head in this district.
Notably, Rasul Hydel Power Station was commissioned in 1951. Two units of 22 Megawatts generation capacity were installed. Total requirement of water to run this station to its full capacity is 3,624 cusecs. Unfortunately the Hydel power station due to poor maintenance and short discharge of water is generating only 4 megawatts electricity. If Rasul Hydel Power Station’s original generating capacity is restored it could fetch about Rs 3 billion revenue, the minister said.