Parnai HEP project set for completion by 2017: JK govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government is looking to wrap up Parnai hydel power project, coming up in Poonch district, by 2017.
"The Parnai hydel power project will be expedited and it will be ensured that it's completed as per schedule," said Minister for R&B, Gardens, Parks and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today.
The Minister was told that Rs 604 crore is being spent on the project and is targeted to be completed by 2017.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had in May this year had taken stock of the progress of the said project.
The hydro electric project (HEP) has been conceived as a multi-purpose one, keeping in mind its potential to cater to both power- and irrigation-related needs of the district.

The work on the Parnai project, a run-of-the-river (RoR) scheme with an installed capacity of 37.5 MW, began in April last year, which is expected to irrigate vast tracts of agricultural land once it's completed in 2017.

During his visit to Poonch, the Minister said the administration has already been asked to sort out any issues hampering the project work.
He asked the authorities concerned to give locals their due share in jobs.
The locals have earlier complained about the slow progress of the project and the purported oversight of the locals for employment.
They also sought intervention of the government on roads maintained by BRO.