Panjsher residents want public electricity extended to their areas

BAZARAK (Pajhwok): Some residents of central Panjsher province have complained about electricity shortage during winter season and urged the extension of public electricity to their areas.

However, officials say standard electricity will be connected to districts of Dara-i-Abshar, and Hesa-i-Awal districts.

The power utility says in Panjsher currently 34 percent of the population uses standard government electricity, while the remaining 66 percent rely on private electricity.

Some residents Shatal, Dara, Abshar, Hisa-i-Awal and Paryan districts say that they face electricity problems during severe cold and autumn seasons, and they are asking the power utility for the extend government electricity to their areas.

Abdul Razzaq, a resident of Roy-i-Dara area of Shtral district said: “All of our areas, where hundreds of families live, rely on self-made electricity. In cold weather, the electricity weakens, and it doesn’t provide enough lighting. This electricity is non-standard and only works for lighting.”
He added: “Even though the government electricity line passes just a few hundred meters from our village, it has not yet been connected to us. We ask the authorities to pay attention to this matter.”

Mojtaba Hakimi, a resident of Abshar district, also said: “We only use electricity from our self-made dam, but it is not sufficient. People are facing challenges and need government electricity from Breshna (the Afghanistan Breshna Shirkat), as only this electricity can solve our problems.”

Saifullah, a resident of Hisa-i-Awal district, said: “The extension of government electricity to this district is the demand of all people and must be implemented in any possible way.”

Residents of Dara and Paryan districts also made similar demands.

The power utility department in Panjshir has acknowledged the challenge of electricity shortages in the province and said they are working to connect the residents to standard electricity.

Eng. Shoaib Nazari, head of electricity department in Panjshir, told Pajhwok Afghan News that their department has completed technical survey for transferring government electricity to the district and has sent it to the Office of the Prime Minister for approval.
He added: “After the approval from the Prime Minister’s office, the transfer of electricity to Hisa-i-Awal, which is one of the most populated districts in Panjshir, will be implemented. The total cost of this project is estimated at 30 million afghanis.”

A source in Breshna said in near future, the Parandeh Dam, one of the hydroelectric dams in Panjshir, will be put into operation. It will not only provide electricity to the provincial center but will also cover districts of Dara and Abshar.
Officials say that the Parandeh Dam project is one of the major hydroelectric projects in Panjshir, which began in 2006 with a production capacity of 4.5 megawatts and a cost of around seven million US dollars. Now, this project is complete and is on the verge of being launched.

Panjsher hydroelectric capacity, investment demand

Some officials of small hydroelectric dams in Panjshir believe that the province has a high potential for electricity production and are calling on the government to invest more in this sector.

Abdul Jamil, a graduate in the field of electricity who manages two small hydroelectric dams in Piawasht village of the Rukh district, said: “In every valley of Panjshir, there is an abundance of water, and there are many good areas for constructing hydroelectric dams. If the government invests in this sector, not only will Panjshir benefit, but neighboring provinces will also be able to access standard electricity.”

Hafiz Bakshi, in charge of a small hydroelectric dam in the Dara district, also said: “Most of the small hydroelectric dams are non-standard. Panjshir has abundant water resources and suitable locations for building dams, and if the government invests in this area, the country will achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production.”

According to Breshna officials in Panjshir, most of the small hydroelectric dams in the province were built by local residents and the Citizen’s Covenant program during the previous government. These dams are mainly non-standard and are only used for household lighting.

Previously, the Panjshir Media Office had announced the completion of a survey for a large hydroelectric dam in the Shtral district.

sa/ma