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| J&K slaps water usage notices to Hydel power projects | | | ET Report
JAMMU, Feb 3: Taking implementation of Water Resources Act- 2010 a step further, Jammu and Kashmir government has issued bills for water usage to the power projects operating in the State.
Releasing the first bills under the Act at a crowded press conference here this afternoon, Minister for PHE Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that revenues under the act are expected to cross Rs 900 crore for a year. He said that Water Resources Act -2010 was enforced on November 11, 2010 in the state and on November 12, all the power projects generating electricity in the state were given notices to register themselves with the State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (SWRRA) within six month.
He said that these power projects have started making enquiries with the state government about completion of formalities. Releasing a copy of the bills for the first and a half quarter of November 12, 2010 to December 31st 2010, Minister said that water usage charges for Salal Project have been calculated at Rs 10 crore, Uri project Rs 6.43 crore and Dul Hasti Rs 8.74 crore and for proposed Uri-II Rs 150 crore.
He said that NHPC alone accounts for Rs 37.33 crores in the first quarter billing. He said that billing has been worked out as per current discharge in the rivers of the State, which is expected to rise in spring. He said that currently the discharge in Jhelum is 1000 cusecs while as during summers it peaks to 8000 cusecs. Terming the Water Resources Act as the first step towards economic self-reliance of the State, Taj said he is hopeful of realizing Rs 913 crores as water usage charges for the coming year which comes out to be 25% of the State's total resource base.
He said that once project like Kishan Ganga are completed, the revenue generation on account of water usage by power projects is expected to cross Rs 1500 crore. He said that constitution of state water Resources Regulatory Authority is in process and for the time being the powers of the authority are vested with the Principal Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control. He said that current rates of 25 paisa per cubic meter are applicable only for two years after which rates will be reviewed by SWRRA.
To a question of non-compliance by any power project, Minister said that under section 102 of the Act, State can stop water to the project as penalty and even its possession would not be regularized. Taj appealed people for judicious use of water and its conservation terming it as a non renewable gift of nature. He said Government is also considering bringing in a law for promoting water harvesting in the State. He said treatment cost of potable water comes out to be 50 paisa per liter while as the government gets only one paisa from the consumers. |
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