Work on 13 hydro power projects to take off soon

New Delhi, Apr 13: Minister of state for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan has said that 13 new power projects with a capacity of 4108 MWS would be taken up in the state shortly.
 He said the projects would be taken up as Centre-State joint ventures, besides, under Private Public Partnership Mode.    This was stated by the Minister at the second meeting of Himalayan States’ Power Ministers’   on Task Force on Hydro Project Development, here today.
 The meeting was chaired by Union Power Minister,   Sushil Kumar Shindhy. Briefing about the hydro power potential in Jammu and Kashmir, the Minister said that the State has an estimated   potential of 20000 MWS of which only 2143 MWS has been tapped so far. He said 5 hydro power projects with a capacity of 779 MWS power were presently under construction under central sector, while another 13 new power projects, with a capacity of 4108 MWS would be taken up in the State shortly.
 The Minister briefed the meeting about the initiatives taken by the State Government for harnessing the hydro potential, besides rehabilitation and resettlement of population displaced due to development of projects.
 The Minister urged for increasing the royalty from 12 per cent at present to 25 per cent to the state on centrally executed power projects in J&K.
 He demanded early approval of Power project reports submitted by the State Government.
 The Minister said that in pursuance of targets under    Prime Minister’s reconstruction programme, the State Government have identified execution of 13 Power Projects in the State. He said the feasibility report for execution of power projects at Dumkar, Karkit, Khalsi, Takmaching, Kanynche on Indus River with a total capacity of 210 MWS  have been completed, adding that detailed project report for execution of power projects Kiru 600 MWS, Kawar 520 MWS and Ratle 690 MWS on River Chenab have been prepared by National Hydro Power Corporation.
 He said that since the preparation of detailed project report is basic requirement for project development, the Union Power Ministry may provide necessary financial assistance to enable the state to have shelf of bankable DPRS. He sought central assistance for preparation of DPRS of power projects of  Shous and Bichalary on river Chenab, Shutkaari Kulan, Sonamarg on Sindh, Lidhar, stage I and II on Lidhar Nallah, Jehlum and  Dhmkhar, Karkit, Khaltsi, Takmaching, Kanyache on river Indus in the State.
 The Minister supported the proposals submitted before the Task Force for accelerated development of hydro potential in Himalayan States.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST