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| This Diwali, let there be light | | Turning point: Baglihar may change destiny of JK | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Sep 7
Coming in as Diwali and Eid gift for the power starved state of Jammu and Kashmir, the possible commissioning of Baglihar Hydro-electric power project is going to be a major milestone in economic development of this state.
Of all the disadvantages coming in way of economic development of Jammu and Kashmir, power sector has been major obstacle. The state had to make do with very little availability of power that too to meet the domestic needs and leaving the industrial sector to grapple in the dark. Baglihar power project, which ran into severe troubles of administrative and engineering delays and also major diplomatic problems, has always remained as a biggest hope for meeting the electricity needs.
With 450 MW capacity, it is one of the major power projects owned by the state. Therefore, the electricity produced by the Baglihar project will be exclusively for the use of J&K state. All other major functional projects like Dul Hasti are in the Center sector owned and operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation in which Jammu and Kashmir gets only 12 per cent royalty share of the total production.
Jammu and Kashmir has the potential for generating 20,000 MWs electricity but only ten percent of the total resources have been harnessed so far and within this the major share is in the Central sector. There are more than 25 power projects –both in State and Central sectors –harnessing a potential of around 1500 MWs. Some of the projects are operational while others are into various stages of completion.
The peak hour electricity requirement in Jammu and Kashmir around 2040 MWs but the total production in state sector has so far been only 311 MWs. After resorting to scheduled power curtailments, the minimum supply is managed by around 950 MWs –procured from royalty out of Central Sector projects, Power Trading Corporation of India and other sources. This supply too falls to around 650 MWs in peak summers as well as in peak winters due to drop in river discharge and transmission and distribution losses.
With generation of 450 MWs of power at Baglihar power project the total electricity production in the State Sector will go upwards 800 MWs. This will not only push the economic growth of state but will also bring down the huge expenditure on electricity procurement.
In yet another good omen, the the Centre has agreed to provide an interest free loan of Rs 670 crores to Jammu and Kashmir for the completion of 450-MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Project, which is likely to be commissioned next month. The recommendation to this effect was made by the Planning Commission of India and accepted by the Union Finance Ministry.
Governor, Mr N N Vohra, has acknowledged with gratitude the support provided by the Central Government for accomplishment of this prestigious project. Generation of energy from this first ever major State owned project will give both energy and financial relief to the State.
Apart from the release of the interest-free loan of Rs 670 crore by the Union Finance Ministry, the State Power Development Corporation has also mobilized the matching loan component of Rs 530 crore from various financial institutions and banks, to meet the cost escalation of this project.
The project was initially slated to be completed at a cost of Rs 4000 crores by June 2006 but due to unprecedented floods in mid 2005, the project received a severe set back, as its tunnels got severely damaged. The natural calamity resulted in time and cost over run in the project with the project cost rising from Rs 4000 crores to Rs 5200 crores. The Centre had earlier also granted a Special Plan Assistance of Rs 630 crores for the project as part of the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan.
“The peak hour electricity requirement in Jammu and Kashmir around 2040 MWs but the total production in state sector has so far been only 311 MWs. After resorting to scheduled power curtailments, the minimum supply is managed by around 950 MWs. This supply too falls to around 650 MWs in peak summers as well as in peak winters. With generation of 450 MWs of power at Baglihar power project the total electricity production in the State Sector will go upwards 800 MWs. This will not only push the economic growth of state but will also bring down the huge expenditure on electricity procurement” |
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