J&K to ask Centre to transfer Salal power project

As power shortage continues to be major hurdle impeding economic growth in Jammu & Kashmir, the state government has decided to initiate measures to tackle this problem.

It is taking up with the Central government the issue of immediate transfer of the 650 Mw Salal power project to the state.

"The transfer of the Salal Project is already under discussion with the government of India, and the state government has even offered to make payment of the balance cost for the project to facilitate its smooth transfer," Muzaffar Hussain Baig, J&K deputy chief minister, who also holds the finance ministry portfolio, said.

At a recent meeting held under the chairmanship of the chief minister to review the progress of the prime minister's reconstruction plan, it was decided that the state government would forcefully push for the transfer of the Salal and Uri Power Projects from the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) to augment the acutely scarce power supply in the state.

"It was also decided in the meeting that the state government would ask the government of India to set aside at least one thermal power project exclusively for Jammu and Kashmir to meet its power requirements," Baig informed.

Experts believe that the transfer of this power project to the state will end its power woes to a great extent.

In this regard, the matter has been taken up by chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and the deputy chief minister with the prime minister on the sidelines of the upcoming conference of chief ministers, finance ministers, and power ministers in New Delhi on February 13.