Srinagar, June 13: Government of India would take a final decision on the ownership rights of the hydropower projects run by the Corporation in Jammu and Kashmir, Chairman, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, ABL Srivastava told Greater Kashmir. “Government of India will take a decision on it,” Srivastava said when asked for his response to a query regarding state government’s oft-repeated contention that J&K, and not the NHPC, was the owner of the projects run by the Corporation in the state.
In his brief chat with Greater Kashmir on Monday on the margins of the two-day hydro power conference organized by India TECH foundation (ITF) at SKICC here, Srivastava said Jammu and Kashmir was rich in hydropower resources. “It (state) is very rich,” he said.
To a question on NHPC’s expansion programs in the state, Srivastava said the Corporation was going to operate four new projects in near future. These include 44-MW Chutak, 45-MW Nimoo Bazgoo, 240-MW Uri-II and 330-MW Kishanganga.
Srivastava was invited by ITF to the 7th hydropower conference organized by the organisation. The state government has been reiterating that Jammu and Kashmir was the real owner of the NHOPC-run projects in the state.
A cabinet subcommittee set up by the state government last year even recommended that J&K should buy back Salal and Uri-I from NHPC after paying the depreciation cost of these projects.
NHPC is presently operating four projects in the state; 690-MW Salal, 480-MW Uri-I, 390-MW Dulhasti and 120-MW Sewa-II. A booklet distributed by the Corporation during the Conference to highlight its achievements, also, mentioned that these projects were “owned” by the Corporation.
It highlighted that NHPC was going to execute three power projects- Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kawar- in a joint venture mode with the state government. Besides 1020-MW Bursar power scheme was at the stage of survey and investigation, the booklet read.
Minister for Irrigation and Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said the NHPC was “violating” the state laws.
“They (NHPC) are not ready to abide by the state cabinet decisions,” Taj said. “But our stand is clear that whatever cabinet has decided on the execution and ownership rights of the projects the Corporation has to follow it.”
J&K’s council of ministers has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the then state government and NHPC over execution of seven projects in the state with two modifications. “The conditions were that recruitment for class-III and Class-IV positions shall be done amongst the people from local area where the projects shall be set up and in addition to 12 percent power as royalty from the projects, state shall also get 15 percent energy at bus-bar rate.”
The MoU was signed in 2000 over seven power projects – 330-MW Kishanganga, 280-MW Uri-II,  1020-MW Bursar, 120-MW Sewa-II, 1000-MW Pakal Dul, Nimoo Bazgo  and Chutak.
Taj has been at the forefront of the confrontation between the state and NHPC over the projects. Last year at a seminar here Taj said “NHPC is an East India Company which is looting the resources of J&K.”

Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST