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| J&K shows teeth, demands hike in power share | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Sep 25
If the center government concedes to a plea made by the Jammu and Kashmir government, the power scenario stands for a massive transformation in the state.
The Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora, who is camping in Delhi, is asserting for enhancing the royalty on central sector power generation in Jammu and Kashmir from existing 12 per cent to 25 percent. It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has already made a strong case before the Prime Minister for enhance on royalty early this year.
The Power Minister who addressed a meeting of the Group of Ministers in Delhi today demanded increase in the royalty from 12 to 25% on the projects run by the central government in the state and there after increasing the same to 50% of the net energy generation once the project is out of financial liability. He also demanded complete transfer of power projects to the state after completing 35 years in operation.
Addressing the Group of Minister (GoM) on power sector issues here, the Minister demanded the right of purchase of unallocated quota by power deficit states at bus bar rates. He also sought right of employment of manpower in central Hydel projects by the states where these projects are executed and nomination of one representatives of the concerned state governments on the executive board of these projects. He said this arrangement can ensure expeditious disposal of the issues concerning the states like land acquisition, security and road connectivity etc. which otherwise take longer periods and affect adversely the projects economics.
On the power sector reforms taken up in the state, Mr. Jora informed the meeting that implementation of APDRP programme is in full swing and a number of initiatives have been undertaken to reform the power sector, which he said are yielding meaningful dividends. He said the reform initiatives should continue till the ultimate goal of having a reliable power sector in the state is achieved.
Projecting the demands of the state, the Minister said that under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Viduytikaran Yojana Rs. 627.32 crores worth projects reports were submitted to the central government two years back covering all the districts of the state. However, he said these projects were reassessed by the Centre at Rs. 418.00 crores due to standardization of norms, which he said are not relevant to the state due to hilly terrain and widely scattered habitations. Also, he said, proposals of only four districts have been sanctioned under these schemes and funds released for two projects only. He said sanctions in respect of remaining ten districts needs to be expedited in view of the limited working season in the state particularly in Kashmir valley and Ladakh.
Reiterating the Stat's demand for compensation for the losses caused due to Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Mr. Jora demanded declaring J&K a participatory state in respect of three Eastern Rivers made available for unrestricted use of India. The annual power deficit of Rs. 1500 crores in the state also owes its origin to IWT due to which the state cannot store water and use it for power generation in lean seasons, Jora told the meeting.
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