New Delhi, Nov 23: Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan on Wednesday said the government was embarking on a multi-pronged strategy to expedite  the process of harnessing 20000 MW hydel power potential in the state.
 Speaking at the 4th meeting of Task Force on hydro power Project Development  held here today under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Power   Sushil Kumar Shinde ,   Shabir said that considering the huge untapped hydro power  potential in Jammu and Kashmir  the  Union Ministry for Environment and Forest should constitute a separate  task force to ensure  timely clearance of the proposal being submitted by the state for   clearance.
 The Minister also pleaded for allowing Jammu and Kashmir to draw  additional 500 MWs of Power beyond the allocated quota to help the state to  meet  increased   electricity requirements during the harsh winter season. 
 He said the local generation of the state goes down during winters due to the less discharge of water in the rivers.   He made it clear that during winter the state gets only 800-900 MWs against the actual allocation of 1500 MWs of power due to less power generation thus creating serious power shortage in harsh winter conditions.
 Shabir also pleaded for providing a grant/subsidy of Rs 1000 crore for Bhagliar hydel Electric Project-II on the pattern of BHP-I to bring down the tariff to a reasonable level as also to make the project viable.
 Regarding laying of 375 kilometer long 220 KV transmission line from Srinagar to Leh via Kargil, the Minister said that the project report prepared by PGCIL has been cleared by CEA at an estimated cost of Rs 629 crore and urged for its early clearance, adding that this line is critical to the harnessing of available hydel potential on Indus  in Ladakh region to facilitate evacuation of power to the northern grid. The minister also pleaded for expediting   work on 400 KV grid station in South Kashmir and  Samba   Jammu.
 Briefing the meeting about the measures being taken by the J&K government to harness state’s rich power potential,   Shabir said that multi pronged strategy has been adopted for harnessing   the hydro potential which includes allotment and execution of projects through state PDC, JVC mode,   IPP on boot basis and involvement of CPUs (NHPC).
 Shabir said that State Government has approved the  hydel policy under which  projects from 2MW to 100 MW can be allotted to IPPS on Boot basis.
 The Minister said that the important power projects taken up or proposed under State sector are 450 MW Bhagliar-II, New Ganderbal 93 MW, Parnai 68 MW, lower Kalnai 48 MW, Kirthai-I 24 MW, Kirthai-II 990 MW, Savalakote 1200 MW, Hanu 5MW, Dah 6 MWs, Pahalgam-III with 1.5 MW capacity while the projects taken up or to be taken up  under Central Sector included Chutak-44 MW, Uri-II 240 MW, Nimo-Bazgo 45 MW, Kishanganga 330 MW and Burser 1020 MW, in addition to the Ratle Power Project with about 690 MW capacity is under execution under IPP mode which is expected to be completed by 2016-17, the Minister added.
 Shabir said that 3 power projects with a 2120 MW capacity are also coming up under joint venture between JKSPDC, NHPC and PTC which include Pakaldul, Kiru and Kawar.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST