J&K to execute hydel projects

With electricity scenario in the state turning from bad to worse, the Jammu and Kashmir government is turning to private investors for generating power at the sites, which have been declared feasible by hydro and geological experts.

While speaking at a meeting to review the progress of variuous mini and micro hydel projects, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the state would soon go all out to tap its abundant hydel resources for generating power.

The state, which was currently drawing power from outside despite having proven hydel potential, should explore tapping this renewable source with an eye on overall development, Azad added.

"We should explore hydel power potential for giving impetus to the overall development in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

For 25 new hydro-electric projects, which were recently tendered, responses for 19 sites with a power generation capacity of over 125 Mw has already come from independent power producers, he added.

He directed the authorites to immediately execute all the 29 hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed on removing all hurdles and procedural delays in taking up mini and micro hydel projects that were pending for over the last decade.

The chief minister directed the constitution of a single window system for clearance of all such projects. He said development of the state is possible only when serious efforts are made to generate power and tap hydel power potential in a speedy manner.

Observing that numerous geological and hydrological surveys were still pending, the chief minister asked the power development department to complete all pending geological and hydrological surveys within a month.

Apart from the hydel projects up to 25 Mw capacity, which would be executed through independent power producers, possibilities of executing power projects of up to 50 Mw capacity should be explored under the same scheme, he said.

Azad asked the power development department to gear up its generating capacity by involving private investors to generate power at the sites which have been declared by hydro and geological experts as feasible.

The projects include Ahrabal 22 Mw, Branwar 5 Mw, Hirpora 9 Mw, Tangmarg 12 Mw, Atwatoo 12 Mw, Boonyar-1 3 Mw, Kahmil Kupwara 5 Mw, Rangila Dunadi Doda 12 Mw, Drung Kathua 5 Mw, and Mandi Poonch 12 Mw.

The chief minister said he asked the power development department and independent power producers to work in two shifts so that all the projects are completed before the prescribed schedule.