1,000 Mw power project in J&K soon, says Shinde

Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who visited Sewa Hydel Power project in Basohli area of district Kathua for inspection on Tuesday, declared that J&K would shortly get a thermal power project of 1,000 Mw capacity.

He said that with the operation of this project, J&K would not be facing power crisis during the winters, when water level goes very low in the snow-fed rivers here, badly affecting the electricity generation.

 

Shinde, however, remained non-committal on handing over the 390-Mw Dul Hasti power project over Chenab, which was commissioned by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently in Kishtwar.

He, however, disclosed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the power ministry and the state government on construction of three more power projects over Chenab in Kishtwar district of Jammu region will be signed within the next week. The projects include 1,020-Mw Pakal-Dul, Kiru and Karwa.

The Sewa-II hydel power project of 120 Mw capacity is being constructed over the Sewa river in Kathua. The project will be completed by June next year. Rotar rovering of three turbines of 40 Mw each at this project were also commissioned by Shinde during his visit on Wednesday. The project is being constructed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and will cost Rs 665 crore.

A top NHPC officer disclosed that with the completion of the Sewa project phase-II, J&K will get 12.5 per cent free power out of it.

The company would be spending Rs 3 crore for carrying out development works around the project site for raising economic condition of people of this area besides improving the surrounding environment. Funds would also be spent on road connectivity and constructing a hospital, he maintained.