At a time when Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Rajouri, Poonch regions are facing power crisis, under-construction Parnaihydel power project, having a capacity of 37.5 MW in Draba area of Surankote could not be completed.
Ironically, according to officials, after the project failed to get completed in 2018, 2022 has been set as a new deadline for its completion.
The Parnai project was aimed to make Poonch district self-reliant in power generation by using heavy flow water of Suranriver that flows from Surankote area of Poonch and then flows into PaK from Poonch town side. The hydel project was approved in 1992 but it could not start due to many technical issues including land acquisition after which project work was taken up with speed in 2014 and 2018 was set as a deadline period which expired. “Now 2022 has been set as a new deadline period.” Official said.
The Parnai Project Manager, Sandeep Kumar, said that four kilometres of work has been completed while five kilometres is remaining now.
“The total length of the tunnel is 9.236 kilometres and the width is 20.3 meters with 12.04 cubic meters water can be released into the tunnel from Bufliyaz at one go.” Kumar said.
Details with Greater Kashmir revealed that the total estimated cost of the project is rupees 640.8681 crore while rupees 473.32 crore is to be given to private companies for construction.
Assistant Executive Engineer of Power Development Corporation, Sartaj Ahmed, said that the work was supposed to start on January 18, 2014 and survey was also started but land acquisition witnessed prolonged delay which hampered start of project timely.
At Mastandara and power house site at Gursai, locals created hurdles in land acquisition and even managed some courts and this all resulted in delay in start of the project.
“Although the work was sanctioned in 1992 but the project failed to see the light of day due to militancy and only in 2009 the government decided to get the project started.” AEE further said.
Thereafter DPR was prepared and submitted besides all other required formalities after which tenders were called and in 2013, Patel construction company was awarded the tender of the project and work started in January 2014.
“Work has been suspended for the last nine months due to coronavirus but we are going to resume work within a week’s time.” Assistant Executive Engineer further said.
“We will generate power at Gursai power house after diverting water from the tunnel and thereafter, power line will be connected between power house and Darabagred station so that power can further be transmitted to required areas.” officer informed. Locals of the area have raised concern over delay in timely completion of project and have demanded completion of project before 2022.
In Mastandra and Power Hos Bata Dhodian, people had to fight for land and filed court cases due to which they could not give the land on time. There is no doubt that the work started in 1992 but at that time Tennessee would have started very fast due to which the work stopped and the office had to be shifted to Jammu and then in 2009 the government planned to relocate. After the resumption of the work, the tendered DPR was submitted and then the work award was given to Patel Company on October 25, 2013. On December 18, 2013, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the new project and Work resumed in January 2014. The previous work was halted due to Tennessee and now the work has been affected by the corona virus since March 22/23, which is still closed but now a week Work is expected to begin within. And the deadline for completion of the new project is 2022 but work has not resumed due to Karuna while 37.5 MW of electricity will be generated in this project and the power has been generated in Haas Bhata Dhodia and from there. The power transmission line was brought to Draba grade station and after that the power was handed over to the PDD department.
‘Tunnel Track’
All the work done so far in the new hydel power project is as follows. Thus the fee is 4 DrabaMachkiNala to Buffalo which is a total of 8032 meters in which work has been completed up to 611 meters. While work has been done in 2565 meters and 2251 meters from Batadhorian to Buffalo. Work has been done 40 meters from Kala NalaMastandra.
Social activist and senior advocate Majid Khan Bar Association Sarankot Vice-President said that it is unfortunate to say that the new project is long overdue but has not been completed yet while it was targeted to be completed in 2018 but Unfortunately, this did not happen.