Like our Facebook Page

news details

Building mini power projects only answer to power crisis in J&K 5/6/2016 9:32:37 PM After all Chief Minister,Mehbooba Mufti,has decided to utilize Prime Ministers' power package of Rs.2,000 crores.In fact the coalition Government has been awakened by the growing peoples' resentment over prolonged outings.Yes,the state Government cannot do anything after other states refused to release additional power to Jammu and Kashmir.The matter should have been sorted about 12 years ago but the Government slept over the matter and at one time during the Congress led UPA Government the state used toget Rs.1300 crores for purchasing additional power from the national grid.And the successive state Governments felt satisfied without taking any step for increasing power generation.And before taking over as Chief Minister,Mehbooba Mufti would rake up the issue of restoration of two major power projects,run and maintained by the NHPC,to the state sector which could have been done as a major concession from the centre to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.In fact during the last 30 years, the power sector has been neglected and the overall power losses,either owing to power pilferage or on account of defective transmission system,touched over 54 per cent. And still the Government did not take any measures to check power losses. Now the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has been woken up and has said that the State Government would spend Rs 2000 crores for mini-hydel power projects (all between 9 to 15 mw) to harness power potential in Jammu and Kashmir even as the Government has decided to re-tender Ratle power project in Kishtwar after GVK decision to exit from the project while Kishanganga power project over river Neelam in Gurez will be completed next year.The Chief Minister said this while reviewing performance of Power Development Department along with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, other Ministers and senior officers of the administration.Mehbooba said the Government would utilize Rs 2000 crores, a provision of which has been kept in the Prime Minister's Development Package, for construction of mini-hydel power projects of 9 to 15 mw, to help harness power potential in the State.Calling upon the authorities to work out 'Summer Preparedness Plan' to meet power shortage and avoid inconvenience to the general public, she called for strict adherence to power cut schedule. Reports have revealed. Punjab Government has agreed to the supply of 120 mw power to Jammu and Kashmir from Ranjit Sagar dam. Hitherto, Punjab had been refusing to give any power to J&K from the project.Dr Nirmal Singh, who holds charge of the Power Department,has confirmed to the that Punjab has agreed to release 120 mw power to J&K from Ranjit Sagar dam, which would boost power supply position in the State. Yes the decision to invest Rs.2,000 crores on building mini power plants seems to be the only alternative to ward off opposition from Pakistan which invariably rests its argument on the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.This Treaty has been a bane for power development in Jammu and Kashmir and occasionally successive Chief Ministers has pleaded for the scrapping of the Treaty.However,the Government of India is bound by its commitment made to the World Bank and that is one of the reasons that has forced India to keep the Treaty alive.But on many occasions the successive state Governments,with financial support from the centre,the plan for building mini and macro power projects were planned.But most of them did not prove result oriented.Some of the mini power projects has been built by the Army but a couple of them have stopped generating power because of water problem.Now that Mehbooba has decided to invest Rs.2,000 crores on building mini power plants the design and the location should be assigned to a committee of experts.If Mehbooba leaves the issue in the hands of the PDD not much progress can be achieved.Mehbooba should get the designs prepared and the orders should be issued to the companies quickly so that by the ensuing autumn season some of the mini power projects were ready which also could narrow down the wide gap between availability and demand.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

top stories of the day

Babus give damn to Govt directions SHO turns 'sexploiter', abuses woman victim NC in for a major setback in Jammu region Gen Bakshi denounces BJP's U-turn on Hurriyat Local BJP leaders mislead central leadership on corruption cases BDO goes out of way to appease RDD employee with political connections MLA becomes 'Betaj Badshah' Balraj Madhok was for trifurcation of J&K Mehbooba's master stroke likely to send opposition into tizzy Performance of Govt schools dismal: Education Deptt Bridle bridge in bad condition, needs immediate attention Slow land acquisition hampers construction of Doda, Kathua medical colleges: Bhagat Priest 'sells' temple land, allege people Court takes note on DC's report, Vigilance recommends FIR Cornered, Edu Deptt wages 'proxy war' against adversaries Eight years after approval, GDC Kilhotran operates from tents Single doctor runs Pahalgam Civil Hospital Nine Marwah villages without water, several water schemes missing from ground

STOCK UPDATE

BSE Sensex NSE Nifty

CRICKET UPDATE