Coordinate with JK Govt to expedite Kishanganga project: PM to

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed the Ministry of Power to coordinate with Jammu and Kashmir Government to expedite the 330-MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in the state.
The direction was passed by the Prime Minister during his monthly meeting with secretaries of Union ministries and chief secretaries of states via video-conferencing under his Pro-active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) initiative.
Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary B R Sharma briefed Modi on various components of the Kishanganga HEP and its overall progress, an official spokesman said.
While reviewing the progress, the spokesman said, Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Power to coordinate with the Jammu and Kashmir government to expedite the completion of the project including the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) plan so that the impounding process slated to be started in June 2016 is not delayed.

The Prime Minister said he shall be reviewing the progress on the project in the next PRAGATI meeting also.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary said out of the 382 Ha land, 379 Ha has already been acquired for the project and balanced three hectors will be acquired shortly.

Sharma informed the Prime Minister that 185 families would be affected due to the project, and said a revised R&R Plan for these project affected families will be approved by the state government soon.
"Previous R&R Plan was unsustainable and a revised plan is being finalised for placing it before the state cabinet for approval," the chief secretary said.

The 330-MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project is located in Bandipora district of north Kashmir and envisages diversion of water of river Kishanganga from Gurez valley into an underground power house (with three units of 110MW each) near Bandipora and discharging the tail water into Wullar Lake.