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| Baglihar to be commissioned soon; over 90% works executed | | | Early Times Reporter
Udhampur | Sep 13
The Jammu and Kashmir Government’s flagship project of Baglihar hydro-electric power project is likely to be commissioned soon with the technical experts emphasizing on completion of over 90 percent the works. While, the technical works have almost completed, the delay is only owing to the ongoing civil works on the dam site.
Giving a detailed appraisal to the team of media-persons that were on a day-long visit to the project being constructed on the mighty Chenab, Chief Resident Engineer Boris Lazaric said that what is most satisfying part of the project is the installation aspect of it. In constructing the project which started way back in 1999, quality was not compromised and the most advanced and sophisticated technology was applied in the state-of -art 450 MW project. He said that the project got international acclaim and approval even of the Swiss Neutral Arbitrator Raymond Lafitte particularly after the objections raised by the neighbouring Pakistan which amply testify the superior technology applied in the construction of the Baglihar.
On the landmarks of the project, Lazaric informed that Baglihar ranks fourth in the list of hydro-electric power projects in terms of the mass concrete pumped into it. He said another significant aspect of the project was that it is fully underground that would obviously prevent it from any catastrophic or security lapses besides withstanding the test of seismic activity and tough terrain.
Apprising the media-team of the initial hiccups in undertaking the project which is being constructed by renowned players of the field particularly the Jay Pee’s Construction Company and the German consultants Lahmeyer International, Lazaric said that adequate care has been taken to check the ingress of the silt in the dam, which beyond any doubt is the main hindrance in its operation. He said that for the first time in the history of hydropower generation in the country, plasma coated turbine blades are being used, which would enhance the life span of the turbine by another ten times.
On the nitty-gritty of the technological wonder applications in the project, he said that nearly 10 km long tunnels and 20 km of roads have been constructed in the young-fold Himalayan Mountains. He said that the magnus of steel and iron used in the tunnel construction too exceeds for strengthening the curvature art and plugging in any fissures that may arise owing to the tectonic shift in the Himalayas. ‘Definitely Baglihar is a human as well as a technological marvel’, he maintained, adding that over 6000 work force is presently engaged in the project, which comprises technical experts, engineers and labourers as well.
Baglihar is not only a boom in terms of power generation but the economics of the power has also immensely enriched Jammu and Kashmir, citing that Chanderkote before the start of the project was just like many road side villages but today it surpasses even the major townships or competes equally with the headquarter Ramban. He said that the construction group has also adequately benefited the locals who are the main beneficiary of the infrastructure developed by the company. He said that the company’s Hospital and school is open to the locals and put forth the empirical figures which highlight that 95 percent of those being treated in the hospital are the locals while similar is the position in terms of enrollment in school.
On the strength of the Baglihar, Lazaric said that the project though got delayed due to the losses in 2005 flash-floods, yet what is most gratifying is that the project withstood the effects of the natural calamity which was not perceivable or has occurred after nearly 400 years.
The Chief Resident Engineer expressed his gratitude to the timely interventions of the successive governments that took keen interest in the accomplishment of the project in its right earnest, especially the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s personnel initiatives in affording the timely assistance, be it in terms of finances or other matters which has enabled speedy execution of works and its early completion. The present government is monitoring the progress and headway made on the project on day-today basis.
When questioned by media persons to specify on the exact date of Baglihar’s commissioning, Lazaric said that the entire installation of all the three turbines, nine SIEMENS Generators, Laying of armoured cables, Gas filled circuit breakers, computerized switch paneled boards, et al have been fully installed in the main power house. It is just on the pressing of key that these would become fully operational, after the gushing of water of Chenab into the laid out tunnels and then into turbines.
Among others, Joint Director Information, Jammu, S.K. Sharma headed the team of the media-persons. Also present were Chief Engineer PDC Raina, Executive Engineers and other technical staff.
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