Shurabak dam electrifies Badakhshan homes

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The Shurabak power plant was turned on to start electricity supply to houses in northeastern Badakhshan province on Tuesday prior to its official inauguration, local officials said.

Nek Mohammad Nazari, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Shurabak hydroelectric dam, which has the capacity to produce 7.5 megawatts, cost more than 45 million euros from German grants. The dam was constructed along the Kokcha river in limits of 3^rd police district of Faizabad City.

According to him, the construction of this power plant was started in 2016 and completed in late 2020. On trial basis, the plant was turned on this morning and electricity was supplied to all houses in Faizabad.

But Nazari said the power plant was scheduled to be inaugurated in the near future in the presence of senior government officials.

Abdul BasirWasiq, a resident of Faizabad, said it was a great wish of local people to see Shurabak power dam was put into service, a wish fulfilled today.

On the other hand, Farid Khayal, another resident of Faizabad, said that the dam should not be entrusted to a contracting company, but the power utility should be responsible for distributing electricity from this dam.

“If the responsibility of running the plant is given to the contracting company  which charges a high tariff, the people would raise their voice against injustice,” he added.

But the governor’s spokesman said the rate of the electricity has not been determined as yet.

sa/ma