Avinash Azad
JAMMU, Mar 19: Thanks to a conflict over ownership between NHPC and JAKEDA, the much hyped first ever wind harvesting project in north India is in oblivion. And there seems no chance of immediate start of work on the project.
Sources informed Early Time Plus, that the land where the project is to be commissioned (Bidda in Reasi), has been leased-out to NHPC, and to solve the dispute between JAKEDA and NHPC the Power Ministry of Government of India had held a high-level meeting on February 14, 2013 but the decision taken could not be implemented.
"The meeting had directed both that JAKEDA and NHPC would work jointly over the prestigious project. But, due to financial constraints the JAKEDA has refused to go for execution on equal ownership condition," sources claimed.
They further said that the Government of J&K has recently written a letter to the Union Government and suggested that the third party should execute the work on same project. Sources said, "On March 8, 2013, through a letter to union, the State Government has suggested that the one megawatt of power which will be produced through wind harvesting, is to be given to NHPC against use of its infrastructure, one megawatt of power remained within the nodal agency, while rest 6 megawatt will be given to the third party (IPP) against its investment."
Sources said that the project will cost about Rs 80 crore and the JAKEDA was unable to invest fifty percent that is Rs 40 crore.
Earlier, 2008, the JAKEDA had taken initiative to meet power shortage and to tap alternative sources of energy, and identified Bidda area of Reasi district along Chenab river to set up first ever wind harvesting to produce 8 megawatts of power. "Chennai-based Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) had conducted the feasibility of the project but due to delay in land transfer to JAKEDA the project is being delayed. The State Government had desired that the project should be implemented by JAKEDA as pilot project, sources added.
JAKEDA in collaboration with C-WET has been monitoring six more wind sites in the State. "C-WET has installed and commissioned wind monitoring station under Wind Resources Assessment Programme at Patnitop, Peer ki Gali, Gulmarg, Parihas Pora, Uplina and Mammar so that wind power generators can be installed up at potential sites. |
