NHPC plans to generate 6,000 Mw in Jammu and Kashmir

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is working to generate 6,040 Mw through its 14 projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Of these 14 projects, two have an electricity generation capacity of 1,170 Mw, and have already been commissioned. Work on other projects is in different stages of completion.

NHPC Executive Director (NR-I) SC Gupta told Business Standard the corporation, with an authorised share capital of Rs 15,000 crore and an investment base of Rs 22,200 cr, was among the top 10 investment companies in the country.

He said the NHPC had signed power purchase agreements for the Kishenganga, Nimoo Bazgo, Chutak, Uri-II and Dulhasti Hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gupta said the company's power stations in the region achieved the highest ever generation of 12,567 million units (MU) in 2005-06, against the generation of 11,286.47 MU in 2004-05.

Gupta said the 480 Mw Uri- Hydel Power project over the Jhelum in Baramulla (Kashmir) and the 690 Mw Salal Hydel project over the Chenab near Reasi in Udhampur district were already operational. Work on the 390 Mw Dul Hasti hydel project in Doda was nearing completion. This project was expected to be commissioned next month, he said.

Work on the 240 Mw Uri-II hydel project over the Jhelum, the 330 Mw Kishenganga power project in the valley, the 120 Mw Sewa ""II hydel project in Kathua, the 45 Mw Nimmo Bazgo and the 44 Mw Chutak hydel projects in Ladakh, the 1,000 Mw Pakal Dul and the 1,020 Mw Bersar project over Chenab in Doda are in different stages of completion.

While the Chutak project would be located on the river Suru, a tributary of the Indus in Kargil district, and consists of four units of 11 Mw each, the Nimmo-Bazgo hydel project will be near the Alchi village on the river Indus in Leh district. It will have three units of 15 Mw capacity each and the estimated cost of these projects would be Rs 1,290 crore.

Four projects""Kiru (430 Mw), Rattle (560 Mw), Kawar (320 Mw) and Shamnot (370 Mw)""have also been entrusted to the NHPC for detailed project reports (DPRs) by the Central Electricity Authority. "All the four projects are located in Doda," he added.

Gupta said while the project report on the Kiru dam was submitted in March this year to the union ministry of power, the DPR of the Rattle hydel project would be submitted in December this year.

"The DPRs of two remaining projects Kawar and Shamnot are scheduled to be submitted in March next year," he said.