news details |
|
|
| Pak responsible for power shortage in J&K | | |
Kashmir Mirwaiz and chairman All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC),Molvi Umar Farooq, has called for direct foreign investment in tapping the hydel power resources in Jammu and Kashmir.This sermon the Molvi dished out during his meeting with the members of the European Delegation,who called on the separatist leader at his residence in Nigin in Srinagar the other day.No doubt Maulana Sahib also sought third party mediation for resolving the vexed Kashmir issue his amazing discourse was his emphasis on direct foreign investment for tapping hydel power potential.He had a reason to do so because the state of Jammu and Kashmir continues to be plagued by acute power shortage warranting load shedding.Imagine the distress and difficulties caused to the people in the Jammu region during power shedding period in the summer months.It has been a problem for the last about 30 years because the growing demand for electricity has not kept pace with increase in power
generation.Possibly the Maulana knows it that the state has potential for generating 20,000 MWs of electricity but till date it has been able to generate about 2320 MWs,which includes 1560 in the central sector.It seems that Maulana believes that Delhi was not interested in tapping the hydel power potential to its full capacity and hence he has sought direct foreign investment in power generation.He has explained the reason behind his demand for direct foreign investment.He has told the European delegation that Delhi may not allow any foreign investment and therefore he wanted "direct" foreign investment in the power sector in Kashmir.Possibly Molvi Umar Farooq seems to be unaware or ignorant of the constitutional procedure and the rules of the game that govern foreign investment in India.Without the permission from Delhi there is no question of direct foreign investment. Even if a state Government wants foreign investment or assistance in some
projects it has to seek approval from the Government of India.Anyway it is not as important as the Maulana's fears that Delhi was intentionally avoiding investing more in power sector in Kashmir. The Hurriyat Chairman needs to be remided that if the state of Jammu and Kashmir is faced with acute electricity shortage Pakistan,which is trying to take advantage of the 50-year old Indus Water Treaty,has been responsible for the power crisis in Kashmir.Whenever the Government of India and the state Government plan to set up a hydel power project on the Chenab or the river Jehlum Islamabad starts throwing spanner in the plan.Molvi Sahib needs to be reminded of Islamabad's breast beating when the Lower Jehlum project,Uri phase I,Dhul Hasti,Bhaglihar projects were taken in hand for construction.Let Molvi Sahib know that it took more than seven years to get Bhaglihar project completed and that too when the cost escalation had touched 30 per cent.It was so when
Islamabad kept on raising one objection or the other.It was Pakistan that took the case to the world Bank which appointed an arbitrator who supported India after making slight changes in the design of the project.India has assured Pakistan that at no stage any attempt would be made to steal water.Even the Pakistan Water Commission authorities have clarified that India was not stealing water but the poor flow of Jehlum,Chenab and the Indus water was the result of meagre water level.Hence if Pakistan abandons its policy of confrontation India has enough resources to tap hydel potential in Kashmir.Let the Maulana convey this to Islamabad.If he succeeds in his mission there is no need for foreign investment in power sector in Kashmir.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
