Jammu, Jan 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today visited Baglihar Hydro-electric Power Project Phase-I and inspected various units.
 He took stock of the present power generation and ascertained the status of functioning of the project.
 Omar also got appraisal of the preparedness for launching 450 MW Phase-II of the Baglihar Project.
 He said the government has flagged indigenous power generation as one of the important concerns, as such, is receiving considerable thrust. He said government is determined to enhance the power generation in the state during next five years to achieve self-reliance in power production and make it main economic driver in the state.
 He said various hydro-electric projects have been conceived to augment the power generation capacity in the state. “We are heavily deficit in power availability and our thrust is to minimize the gap between availability and the demand”, he said adding that investors are being persuaded to invest in this sector in the state under public-private partnership.
 The Chief Minister has recently approved launch of 240 MW Kirthai-I and 98 MW New Ganderbal Hydro-electric projects through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to fast track the completion of these projects for augmenting indigenous power generation in the state.
 The Kirthai-I Project is estimated to cost Rs.1258 crores while as New Ganderbal Hydro-electric project involves an expenditure of Rs.668 crores.
 The formation of SPVs for the projects is aimed at expeditious execution of the projects on PPP mode. The two SPVs will be hundred percent subsidiary of Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. These will also be responsible for undertaking all pre-construction activities relating to project implementation. These will be dedicated entities for implementation of the two power projects on build own, operate and transfer (Boot) basis.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST