Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 21: Notwithstanding tall claims of the successive Governments about making Jammu and Kashmir energy exporter, the experiment of making use of State’s key resource of hydropower by way of constructing small power projects has failed twice during the past 12 years. Due to this, the fate of 18 projects having the capacity to generate 250 Mega Watts of electricity is hanging in balance and nobody knows whether these projects would see light of the day.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in order to tap hydropower potential by getting small power projects constructed through private sector participation, the State Government vide Order No.211-PDD dated October 9, 2003 brought out its hydel policy. Besides expeditious development of available hydropower, the objective of this policy was maximization of benefits to the State by meeting its power requirements, giving fillip to economic growth and providing employment opportunities to the people of the State.
Under this policy, 10 projects were awarded to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the year 2005 but only five of them could be completed albeit beyond the scheduled date of completion while as fate of five others is still hanging in balance.
The projects, which were taken up in 2005 but yet to be completed despite lapse of 10 years are 12 Mega Watt Hirpora in Pulwama district, 4 MW Kahmil in Kupwara district, 12 MW Boniyar in Baramulla, 12.50 MW Mandi in Poonch district and 5 MW Drung in Kathua district. In respect of Hirpora, Detailed Project Report preparation is still in progress even 10 years after award of the project. Similarly, land acquisition and clearances are still in progress in respect of Drung project while as work is yet to be completed in respect of three other projects.
As the policy of 2003 failed to yield desired results, the Government vide Order No.205-PDD dated July 7, 2011 revised the State Hydel Policy in order to give further impetus to exploitation of hydel potential. However, this policy too failed to yield any positive result till date, which is evident from the fact that out of 13 projects awarded in the year 2013-14 no substantial progress is seen in respect of six projects while as seven others are to be re-awarded after the earlier companies failed to fulfill the conditions following issuance of letter of award.
The projects, which are required to be re-tendered are 10 MW Shranz (I and II), 9 MW Sukhnag, 9 MW Bairass, 9 MW Tamasha, 6.50 MW Gulabgarh, 6 MW Nihama and 3 MW Sultanpathri. The other six projects, which otherwise don’t face any impediment but yet to make substantial progress are 45 MW Bichlari, 40 MW Ans-I, 27 MW Kanzil Wangath, 12 MW Girjan Ki Gali, 7 MW Chandanwari Uri and 21 MW Patnazi Bunjwa.
“Due to this, the experiment of making use of State’s key resource of hydropower by way of constructing small power projects has failed twice during the past 12 years”, sources said, adding “not only this objective even the plans of maximization of benefits to the State by meeting its power requirements, giving fillip to economic growth and providing employment opportunities to the people of the State could not be achieved till date”.
In response to a question, sources said that various aspects of the policy are not investor friendly and investors can get benefits of the projects only after the lapse of 10 to 12 years, which is preventing investors from coming forward to evince interest in such projects.
According to the sources, imposition of Water Usage Charges under Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Management Act is also playing spoilsport as due to these charges the cost of the projects will go up considerably and the independent power producers will not derive much benefit.
“The issue was taken up at the highest forum for giving relaxation vis-à-vis water usage charges to the independent power producers but no decision has been taken till date”, sources regretted.
According to the survey, there are large number of un-electrified villages/hamlets in the State. So there is need for development of hydroelectric power on a scale serving a small community. Micro/Mini Hydel power has tremendous potential for generation of electricity in the State as the topography of State provides extensive network of canals and streams.
Follow our WhatsApp channel