Investigation Uncovers Overlooked Geophysical Factors in Neelum-Jhelum Project
Staff Report:An investigation has revealed that geophysical and seismic factors were overlooked during the construction of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and there was no timely third-party validation of the project.
It was also pointed out that adequate concrete lining of the headrace tunnel was not completed.
An important meeting regarding the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
During the meeting, a preliminary investigation report was presented by former Federal Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, who heads the committee investigating recent malfunctions in the project.PM Forms Committee for Neelum Jhelum Project’s Design Faults
The meeting revealed that on April 29, 2024, a pressure drop in the right and left headrace tunnels of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project led to a reduction in power generation. By May 2, 2024, power generation from the plant had completely ceased. The briefing highlighted that the closure of the project is causing significant financial losses to the national exchequer.
It was reported that the current fault occurred in a rock burst zone. During the PTI regime in 2021, an abnormal pressure drop in the headrace tunnel similarly led to a significant decrease in power generation.
This issue was reportedly ignored and not documented, with the matter being deliberately suppressed. No repair work was undertaken during the PTI regime, exacerbating the losses and amounting to what was termed “criminal negligence.”
The defects observed in the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in 2021 are also included in the current investigation report.
Additionally, in 2022, power generation was suspended due to a fault in the tailrace tunnel of the project.
The briefing emphasized that geophysical and seismic factors were overlooked during the construction of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project, and adequate concrete lining of the headrace tunnel was not completed. Furthermore, there was no timely third-party validation of the project.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed that the investigation report regarding the recent shutdown of the project be completed immediately. He also instructed that those responsible for the defects be identified and face strict action. Experts pointed out design flaws and inadequate concrete lining, describing the negligence in such an important project as criminal.
The Prime Minister questioned why a detailed geological survey had not been conducted for the project and condemned the lack of third-party validation. He issued a directive to form an urgent committee to oversee the reactivation of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Power Owais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Petroleum Mossadegh Malik, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, and Chairman WAPDA Lieutenant General (Retired) Sajjad Ghani. Other relevant senior government officials, including former Federal Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, were also present.
