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| PM dedicates Baglihar, J&K richer by Rs 900 Crores | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
CHANDERKOTE, Oct 10: In what can be described as realization of a long pending dream, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh dedicated to the people of Jammu and Kashmir first phase of 450 Mega Watt Baglihar hydro-electric project built on River Chenab here in Ramban district constructed at a cost of Rs 5200 Crores.
The star studded inauguration ceremony was attended by the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz, J&K Governor NN Vohra, former Chief Ministers Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad besides a host of political leaders from different parties.
The Prime Minister said that with the commissioning of the first phase of the project, the State would earn revenue of Rs.900 crore every year which could be utilized on the schemes meant for development and welfare of the people. He said the Baglihar project has been constructed in accordance with the Indus Water Treaty, adding “we have taken care to address the genuine concerns of our neighbouring country”. He said both India and Pakistan should cooperate with each other. “I invite Pakistan to work with us together”, he added.
After formally turning the power plant on, the Prime Minister congratulated the people on commissioning of the Baglihar project and said that he considers this as the most important development project for Jammu and Kashmir. He said that availability of power is a pre-requisite to promote industrialization and side by side meet domestic needs, as such, power is the basic necessity. He said during the 11th five year plan government has resolved to enhance the power generation capacity up to 78,000 MW, adding that there is vast hydro power potential in the country especially in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that the Central Electricity Authority has assessed the hydro power potential of 1,49,000 MW in the country out of which arrangements have been made for utilizing 36,000 MW. He said out of the total power production in the country, the share of hydro power is 26 per cent, which we want to raise to 40 per cent. He said hydro electric power does not harm our environment, adding that with the harnessing of hydro power in J&K, the people of the State would benefit in a big way.
He said prior to commissioning of the Baglihar project, only 309 MW power was generated in Jammu Kashmir in the State sector and 1560 MW in the Central Sector. He said with the commissioning of first phase of this project, the capacity of the State to produce power on its own has gone up to 759 MW, which is more than double. He said the work on construction of 450 MW Phase-II of the Baglihar hydro electric project would start soon.
Referring to the challenges that the State had to face in completion of the Baglihar project, he complimented the State leadership for conceptualizing and completing this mega project despite difficulties. He expressed his happiness over the implementation of liberal relief and rehabilitation package for the people affected with the construction of this project. |
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