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| Will Pakistan allow J&K to implement new power projects? | | | If all goes well and the state Government fulfills its commitments Jammu and Kashmir is in for a major power generation revolution during the next 10 years.Well if the majority of over one crore people in Jammu and Kashmir suffer the pangs of electricity shortage leading to prolonged outrages they are satisfied that their proginy may enjoy the bliss of uninterrupted power supply in future.The reason being that for securing participation by the foreign companies in power generation the Jammu and Kashmir government no longer required counter-guarantee from Government of India. "The state no longer requires it (counter-guarantee). It was needed in the past because power sector was unviable, but now the scenario has changed," according to principal secretary, Power, Sudhanshu Pandey, and the Managing Director, J&K Power Development Corporation, Basharat Dhar.Pandey said the upcoming projects in JK would be allotted through global tendering process. A Swiss company has shown interest in joint venture between state and NHPC on setting up of three projects-Kiru, Kawar and Pakal Dul- worth 2100 MWs. Reports said that as a result of refusal to give counter gurantee by the Govrnment of India power generation projects could not be taken with the technical and financial assistance by various foreign firms. Had this counter gurantee beeen available on time the state would have utilised major portion of its potential of gner ating 20,000 MWs of ele-ctricity. The result was huge economic loss and severe discomfort to the people of the state. In absence of it (counter-guarantee) JK was forced to handover execution of the projects to the Government of India owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). Officials said in 2000 state had to handover seven projects to the NHPC after Government of India did not provide the guarantee. The seven projects included 240 MW Uri II, 330 MW Kishanganga, 120 MW Sewa II, 1000 MW Bursar, 1020 MW Pakaldul, 44 MW Chitak, 45 MW Nemo-Buzgo. with the change in the situation on counter gurantee issue some foreign agencies have agreed to provide 85 percent financial assistance to the State government in developing these projects. The State government had got concurrence for developing Kishanganga and Uri II power projects from the companies which had developed Uri I. And for Sewa the concurrence had come from the Seva Power Consortium.
However the government of India allegedly stalled the projects by refusing to give counter guarantee.But the official reports are silent over the stand Pakistan would take once construction on some of these projects was started.In the past it has been seen that a execution of work new power plants and the commissioning of these projects wwere delayed because of Islamabad's opposition to the projects under the garb of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.On a number of occasions when the Pakistani team was not satisfied with the genuine arguments dished out by India it sought international arbitration.India has won the cass still Pakistan has been in the look out of opportunities for blocking progress of power projects by raising one hurdle or the other.It would be better for India if it got clearance from Pakistan for every power project before allotting the work to some foreign company.If India is not in a mood to seek concurrencee or no objection from Pakistan it should then display its vigour for facing objections from Pakistan.Whatever course New Delhi wishes to adopt raising power generation was a must for Jammu and Kashmir because out of its potential for generating 20,000 MWs the state has been able to generate 2400 MWs.. |
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