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NHPC, PDD, JKPDC sign tripartite MoUs for J&K’s power sector

ZT News Network
JAMMU: Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were today signed between Power Development Department (PDD), J&K; National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd. and J&K Power Development Corporation for implementation of several Hydro Power projects, including 850 MW Ratle HEP and 930 MW Kirthai-II HEP, besides execution of long pending Sawalkot HEP (1856 MW), Uri-I (Stage-II) (240 MW) and Dulhasti (Stage-II) (258 MW), to make J&K a power surplus region in the country.
The MoUs were signed in the presence of Raj Kumar Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Power, New & Renewable Energy and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of J&K and Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS, PMO, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
The occasion also witnessed inauguration of as many as 19 important projects of PDD aimed at greater generation, efficient transmission and better distribution of power supply in J&K during the Mega inauguration ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Power, New & Renewable Energy, Shri Raj Kumar Singh assured extending every support of the GoI to the J&K Government for various reforms in the power sector.
Locals will be trained and given employment in NHPC ventures; besides NHPC will see for development of small hydro projects also, he maintained. We have to do our bit of duty to see electricity reaching every household 24×7, said the Union MoS.
During his address, the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha observed that the MoUs signed today would attract investments worth Rs 35,000 crore for Jammu & Kashmir power sector and ensuring the region’s energy security and 24-hour power supply to the people of J&K.
Out of the two agreements, the NHPC would work in association with the administration at the first and, the languishing Sawalkot project would be handed over to NHPC for completion under the second. The project has been perpetually postponed since its conception in 1984 and was expected to generate 1856 MW power, he added.
“J&K is taking a quantum leap from being power deficit to becoming power surplus in the next four years. For uninterrupted power supply, this is the most significant move by the J&K government”, said the Lt Governor.
As per the provisions of these MoUs, the projects will be handed over back to Jammu and Kashmir after 40 years of commercial operation which was not in case of earlier projects allotted to NHPC Limited, he remarked.
The Lt Governor said that the numerous hydro resources of Jammu & Kashmir are capable of generating 14,867 MW power but the potential had not been fully exploited, and only 3504 MW power was being generated till now. The works started now will ensure that another 3498 MW power is generated in the next three to four years.
The potential which was achieved in 70 years would now be doubled within the next four years only, maintained the Lt Governor.
J&K’s journey from a power deficit to a power surplus region can only be realized with vision and planning. Entire overhaul is being made possible with the support of the Central Government without any expenditure by the UT administration, the Lt Governor remarked.
The Lt Governor said that the year 2021 has been given a stupendous start as the UT administration signed various MoUs for the development of Jammu & Kashmir, which include MoU with NAFED to bring reforms in the horticulture sector, for high density plantations, cold storage cluster, market linkage and GI tagging of local products including the announcement of Rs 2200 cr investment in the UT by NAFED.
MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, in his address, said that the Mega Hydro Power Projects will not only generate employment but would increase the per capita income of J&K. He dedicated all the inaugurated projects to the common people of J&K.
In his welcome address, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, Rohit Kansal said that the initiative will add more than 3500 MW of energy and will thus help J&K become power surplus UT.
The projects inaugurated today during mega inauguration ceremony include – 24X7 e-Customer Care /Call-Centre for Jammu region to receive complaints and queries related to electricity supply and billing from general public; On boarding of Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS); 33/11 KV 10 MVA Sub Station at Anchidora, Khrew-II,Uri town , Bagh-i-Islam, Choon Budgam, Changmulla; 2×10 MVA 33/11 KV Sub Station Canal –II and 10 MVA 33/11 KV Sub Station Udhaywalla; Additional 50 MVA Transformer at Barn , Draba and Siot Grid Stations; Augmentation of 132/33 KV Grid Station Magam from 50 MVA to 100 MVA; Completion works in 19 IPDS towns of Bijbehara circle, Kashmir; Commissioning of 320 and 100 MVA transformers at Grid Station Alusteng .
Members of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma and Shamsher Singh Manhas; Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor, JMC; Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisor to the Lt Governor; SN Sahai, Union Secretary Power; BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Abhay Kumar Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, NHPC; Suresh Kumar, Chairman Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL); A.K. Choudhary, Managing Director, CVPPL; Raja Yaqoob Farooq, Managing Director, JKPDC were present on the occasion.

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