A two-member bench of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court has issued an order terminating the contract for the Hanzl 20 MW Hydel Power Project, it was reported on Wednesday.
The esteemed court, headed by Justice Raja Shakeel Ahmed and comprising Justice Mushtaq Muhammad, in its judgement declared that the contract HPP-HANZL/ICB-01 dated September 6, 2021, is hereby cancelled, while the performance guarantee of the contractor joint venture (FWO-CNEEC) working on the project has also been forfeited.
The judgment further ordered that the project director be immediately removed from his post, and the recovery of salaries and benefits received beyond the stipulated period of 34 months be implemented.
The court expressed its displeasure over the performance of the concerned authorities and said that the inordinate delay in the project was against the public interest.
The court directed that the process of a new procurement agreement should be initiated immediately for the timely completion of the Hansal 20 MW Hydel Project, and the court should be kept regularly informed of every stage of this process.
Furthermore, it ordered that a copy of the decision be sent to the Secretary Water and Power Gilgit-Baltistan.
