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Indus Water Treaty making JK suffer: MoS Power

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Srinagar, July 17: Minister of State (MoS) for Power Shabir Ahmed Khan on Tuesday said that JK continues to suffer untold hardships and disadvantages on account of the discriminatory provision contained in the Indus water treaty.
Addressing State Power Ministers Conference held under the chairmanship of Union Power Minister,Sushil Kumar Shinde in New Delhi, Khan said, “JK has lost its right of impounding and optimally utilizing the water of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum rivers to take care of seasonal variation in power demand. State has not been compensated for this loss despite the agreement in principle to do so.”
He said that Jammu and Kashmir Government has chalked out an ambitious hydle capacity addition programme to execute projects with installed capacity of about 6000 MW hydro power during 12th five year financial plan. “In this regard the DPRs and other clearances in most of the projects are ready and framework for development of these projects under different modes have been put in place,” he said.
Khan demanded for development of 1000 MW thermal power station in JK for meeting out state’s electricity shortage during winter season when hydro power generation decreases due to freezing of water. He also urged for construction of alternate evacuation double circuit 400 kV transmission line via Mughal Road, which he said not only mitigate the power crisis in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch but also prove beneficial to regulate un-interrupted power supply to Kashmir Valley during winter season.
The Minister said that transmission and distribution installed capacity in the State is 18170MVAs against the total requirement of 23846 MVAs at the end of 11th five year Plan.
He said at the level of energy requirement of 344 MWs by the end of 12th five year plan, there will be gap of around 9000 MVAs. He said an investment of Rs. 2045 crores will be required to undertake the execution during 12 the five year plan and requested central Government to consider a package for construction of 220 and 132 KV transmission and transmission infrastructure in the State on the lines of PM package.
The Minister said that State Government has already made DPRs for 238 towns for being covered as non-RAPDRP Towns in the State. He said in this regard an investment of Rs. 1245 crore is needed to reduce T&D losses to 15% level. He said the proposal has already been submitted to the Union Minister for Power and this needs to be approved a funded during 12th five year Plan as a special project for J&K.
The Minister said the State Government is on a fast track of reforms in power sector including restructuring of the Power Development Department and in this regard the Government needs continued and timely support of Central Government to achieve these objectives.
The Minister said that State Power Development Corporation has the unique distinction of successfully awarding one hydle project (Ratle 850 MW) under IPP mode after following competitive tariff bidding process. He said for this purpose, necessary amendment was carried out in the J&K State Electricity Regularity Commission Act, thereby facilitating signing of power purchase agreement with the promoter.
The Minister said that it is worthwhile to mention here that the transmission and distribution activity of JK State Power Development has been approved for unbundling which is encouraging in the interest of reforms in the sector. He said the generating activity is already unbundled in the State and consultant for the purpose of unbundling of T&D has been engaged by the Government. He hoped that Centre would extent all possible support for the restructuring, Corporatization and capacity building of utilities.
The Minister said that even though the Jammu and Kashmir enormous hydle resource of estimated 20,000 MWs, but it continues to face acute shortage of energy, particularly, during the winter months. He said people across the State have to cope with power curtailments stretching from 8 to 10 hours, both summer and winter months, even though the State Government spending substantial amounts of money on purchase of power.
He said we have a project demand for energy at 3440 MWs by the close of 12th five year plan. Thus, the proposal for generation, transmission and distribution have accordingly made by the department. He said during previous financial year the State has purchased Power to the tune of 11115 million units involving an expenditure of Rs. 3762 crore. He however said that this supply is at restricted level and if we supply for the full demand, requirement would have been much more.
The Minister said that so far State has been able to harness a total hydle generating capacity of 2462 MWs comprising 760 MWs in State sector and 1702 MWs in Centre sector against the total estimated potential of 20,000 MWs.
He said during the 12th five year plan, State has eight spill over ongoing hydle power project with installed capacity of 2295 MWs comprising 3 projects in State sector with installed capacity of 58 MW and 5 projects in Central Sector with installed capacity of 1679 MWs. While 3 hydle projects in Central Sector namely first Uri-II (240MW), second Nimo Buzgo (45MW) and 2 units (11x2) of Chutak HEP (44 MWs) will be commissioned shortly by NHPC, the State sector projects are at the initial stages except Baglihar-II which is expected to be completed by 2015.

Indus Water Treaty making JK suffer MoS Power Lastupdate:- Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com
 

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