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| Is SPDC fully prepared to take over Baglihar project? | | | For a change the state Power Development Corporation has decided to accept a challenging task of taking over operation and maintenance of Baglihar power project in Ramban from the NHPC.Soon after the 450 MW power project was completed and commissioned in 2008 the state Government had entered into an agreement under which the NHPC was to take over operation and maintenance of the project for two years.Under the agreement the NHPC was to receive Rs.110 crore per year from the state Government. The agreement will be over by the end of the current month and during these two years the state had paid to the NHPC Rs.200 crores for the purpose of maintenance and operation. The state Government had entrusted the responsibility of carrying out maintenance and operation of the project to the NHPC on the plea that the state Power Development Corporation had no sufficient manpower, especially engineers, who could carry out maintenance of the project and keep it functional.
During the last three to four years state based political leaders, especially those belonging to the PDP and the National Conference, have been campaigning in favour of transfer of all power projects from the central to the state sector. Their plea is that since all these power projects,Baglihar,Dul Hasti,Salal,Uri,rceived water for power generation from the rivers that flow within the state Jammu an Kashmir was supposed to get more share in the electricity than it has been getting till date. On an average the state has been receiving 12.5 per cent when it has been demanding a share of 25 per cent so that it had not to spend over Rs.1000 crores annually on purchase of power from the Northern grid. Under the new order the NHPC is supposed to pay Rs.five lakhs as license fee for each power project.
Informed sources said that the basic idea behind the demand for transfer of power projects from the central to the state sector was to save money that was to be paid to the NHPC as charges for maintenance and operation of the projects. Leaders belonging to the PDP and the NC believe that even if the state Government was able to save 10 per cent of the amount spent on maintenance and operation that amount could be invested in power generation. Besides this the champions of autonomy,as NC and the PDP are, believed that transfer of power projects from the central to the state sector could be a step in the direction of restoration of autonomy atleast in the running of the power project. When the Baglihar power project was commissioned in 2008 the state Power Development Corporation could not take over its maintenance and operation because of paucity of staff. This has raised one question. Has the PDC now sufficient staff, especially engineers, who can run the project? PDC sources say that engineers were being recruited. Will the power project be safe in the hands of raw hands? The state Government needs to reexamine the matter because when compared to the expertise of the NHPC engineers, the engineers belonging to the PDC lack experience. This way PDC needs to deserve before it starts desiring.
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