ISLAMABAD: In a landmark development on Neelum Jhelum Dam project, Chinese experts on Monday connected the 10 kilometers long under ground tunnel coming from Jhelum river side with the tunnel connecting the power house with almost 100 percent perfection.
These experts completed the gigantic task of connecting the two tunnels with precision (only with minor difference of 6 centimeters) and celebrated the occasion with pride.The Chief Executive of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project company, Gen (R) Mohammad Zubair, when contacted, confirmed that it was a great milestone in the history of the project.
It speaks about the Chinese geologists’ expertise is touching new hights and they are working here day and night to complete the state-of-art project which is of paramount importance.“We have crossed the Jehlum river bed through the completion of underneath 10 Kilometer long tunnel and connected with Addit-5 (tunnel connecting with power house), the CEO said.
“The precision connection of the two tunnels gains significance if kept in view the case of just 8.5 Kilometers Lowari tunnel. When the said small tunnel was dug from both sides and at the time of connection there was a huge difference of 1.5 Meters,” he recalled mentioning how wonderfully connection with precision has been made in the case of Neelum-Jehlum River.
Gen Zubair explained that
71% of the 48 Kilometers water tunnel has been excavated and with the working of high tech tunnel boring machines (TBMs), the excavation work has picked up pace.
The site of power house and transformers hall (both are under ground) has been 100% excavated. So much so, draft tubes in the power house site are being installed and three out of four have been put in.
At the dam site, CEO said the 74% construction work got completed and the site for de-sander has been 100% hollowed out and wherein concrete work is now speedily underway.However, the officials in the Ministry of Water and Power dealing with Neelum-Jhelum project are quite upset and express their apprehension that the construction work on project may get slowed down or halted as the construction company of the project has not been provided the amount of Rs14 billion so far.
Though Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has sanctioned the said amount to the Chinese construction company, but three weeks have elapsed and no amount has been delivered to the said company.
Chinese experts connect Neelum-Jhelum - thenews.com.pk
