JKSPDC to start 66 power projects in seven years

The Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) plans to start 66 power projects with a total capacity of over 7,600 Mega watts in the next seven years.
"The Corporation has plans to take up 66 projects, including those under Independent Power Producers (IPPs), with a total installed capacity of 7,645 MW in the next seven years. The process of revising the PDC's existing IPP policy is underway to make it more attractive to prospective investors," an official spokesman said.
Governor N N Vohra today chaired the 71st meeting of the board of directors of the JKSPDC. This was the first meeting of the Board after its recent reconstitution by Vohra.

The Governor asked the Managing Director to urgently identify project wise critical issues and personally ensure strict adherence to the timeliness of each project to avoid cost escalation and generation loss due to the traditional recurring delays in project execution.
He noted that the hydro power potential of Jammu and Kashmir, if exploited to its fullest extent, shall enable all round socio-economic growth, development and enhancement of the economy.
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The crucial decisions taken in the meeting include approval forconstruction of 178 Meter Steel Bridge over river Chenab on access road to 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project (HEP) besides 1,500 Meter double lane tunnel for external access to the HEP, the spokesman said.

With a view to expedite the construction of 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydro Electric Project, the board approved constitution of a high level committee comprising administrative secretaries of planning and development, finance and power and MD JKSPDC. The committee will examine the issues related to cost of the HEP within a period of one month and submit its recommendations for approval of the government.
The board discussed the development of mini hydel power projects of the capacity of 2 MW to 25 MW under Prime Minister's Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Plan and directed the Administrative Secretary PDD to submit a detailed Action Plan for expediting private sector participation in the power sector, he said.

The Governor directed that the remaining works of Baglihar Hydel Electric Project Stage-II should be completed without any delay and asked the Managing Director PDC to ensure that the Corporation's internal systems were strengthened and streamlined to ensure the timely approval of various power projects and the effective management of every contract.
Among other projects, the board also approved the implementation of the leftover works of Catchment Area Treatment Plan of Baglihar Hydel Electric Project for coverage of 2,587 hectares; the proposal to form a Joint Venture Company with 67 per cent equity participation by NTPC and 33 per cent by JKSPDC for development of Kudanali-Laburi Coal Block in Odisha, the spokesman said.

The board was informed that the total geological reserves of the coal block was estimated at 396 metric tonnes with allocation of 266 metric tonnes to NTPC and 130 metric tonnes to JKSPDC, he added.