ET Plus Report
JAMMU, Apr 12: The State is reeling under power crisis. According to reports, the winter capital will experience power cut of 8 hours daily. The situation will be no good in the summer capital. The State is not in a position to purchase power from outside at least for the time being. What is the way out?
The experts believe that the State can produce as many as 400 MWs of power by putting the flour mills to proper use. If this happens, there will be no fear of violating any existing treaty. The environment will also remain undisturbed as no mega infrastructure will be needed. According to HA Gora, an expert on economic engineering of electricity, there are 80,000 water flour mills in the State of Jammu Kashmir. Each mill has a capacity to generate 5,000 watts of electricity, and the aggregate output from 80,000 mills will be 400,000,000 watts, which is equal to 400,000 KWs or 400 MWs of electricity. This is equal to the capacity of Baglihar Hydel Power Project.
This magnitude of electricity can be generated without violating the Indus Water Treaty and does not require huge investments for creating super-structures. It will generate an income at a tariff rate of Rs 1.6 per watt equal to Rs 640,000,000 per day, and Rs 192, 000, 00000 per month and Rs 2304,000,000, 00 per year. These water mills, Gora believes, can create new avenues of employment as well. "If every mill engages two persons, these mills can generate employment for 160,000 people", he said.
The scheme, if put into actual practice, can do wonders with State's economy if the State Government exhibits political will and gets New Delhi's nod. Experts say such micro hydro-electric projects have been contributing a lot to economic development of China. Presently only 1500 MWs has been harnessed, which is just 7.5 per cent of the total potential. Out of the harnessed potential, only 12 per cent is given to the State as royalty by NHPC, which is equal to 180 MW.
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