Technical appraisal of Sawalkote project by Aug end: J-K govt

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is likely to issue technical appraisal of the prestigious 1856 MW Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir by the end of August this year, the state government has said.
"The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Sawalkote project is at an advanced stage of appraisal at CEA. Technical appraisal is likely to be issued by CEA August ending," Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said yesterday.
The Deputy CM was replying to a question by National Conference MLA Devender Singh Rana in the state Assembly.
Rana has sought the present status of upcoming eight power projects with a cumulative capacity of over 5600 MWs including 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project which the government said was abandoned by Messrs GVK.

Work on the 850 MW Rattle HEP was abandoned by M/s GVK in July 2014.
However, prior to the abandonment of the works, a permanent and a temporary bridge and an approach road to the dam have been executed, while work on project colony and diversion tunnels was in progress at the time of the abandonment of the project, Singh, who is also the Power Minister said.

He said 660-MW Kiru and 1000-MW Pakaldul HEPs are at the tendering stage, while 560-MW Kwar HEP is at an advanced stage of appraisal.
The three projects are being implemented through Chenab Valley Power project limited.

About 550 MW Dulhasti-II HEP, the Deputy Chief Minister said the topographical survey and Geological mapping works have been completed on the basis of preliminary layout and detailed project report is under preparation.
Singh said 48-MW Lower Kalnai HEP was awarded to M/s Coastal Projects Limited on September 12, 2013 for an amount of Rs 396 crore.
The completion period of the project is 48 months.
Over 70 hectares of land is required for the project including submergence besides diversion of one and a half hectare of forest land.
Abandoned following eruption of militancy in early 1990s,
the 37.5 MW Parnai Hydroelectric project in Poonch district was awarded to M/s Patel Engineering limited for an amount of Rs 473.32 crores and work was going on, Singh said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said in 1989, the state power development department prepared a detailed project report of Pranai HEP which was cleared by the CEA in 1992 and Central Water Commission in 2002.
On the 1858-MW Sawalkote HEP, Singh said the detailed project report of the Sawalkote HEP for the said capacity was submitted to the CEA in January 2014 for seeking the Techno Economic Clearance (TEC) from the said authority and presently the same is under appraisal by different directorates.
Due to inclusion of the project in the prioritised list of CEA, the DPR submitted is being reviewed periodically by its different directorates.

Various observations raised from time to time are being replied promptly by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSDPC), he said.
He said some of the directorates of the CEA and Central Water Commission (CWC) have already granted clearance to the important aspects of the DPR.
However, he said the Indus Water Treaty clearance from Indus Commission is under process.
The Deputy Chief Minister said since the accord of TEC to the Sawalkote HEP by CEA is in its final stage and is expected soon, some field activities are essential for smooth execution of the project.
The main activities presently undertaken is divided mainly into three parts persuasion of No Objection Certificates with various state as well as central departments, identification and acquisition of different kinds of land involved including the forest land, and preconstruction activities like external access road to the project site, construction of 1500 m long tunnel and steel bridge over Chenab, he said.

He said while the clearance from the Union ministry of Defence was received, same is awaited from Forest and Environment ministries.