WE THE PEOPLE
Despite drawing electricity from Baghliar and other sources, unscheduled power-cuts remain unchecked in Kashmir
Hence people seek Governor’s intervention, demand uninterrupted power to meet their basic needs during ongoing winter months
By: M.Shirjeel
Srinagar: After long wait for Baghliar Power Project to become operational, people of Kashmir Valley expected that with its commissioning their dark houses would get electrified and all their domestic requirements met without any hiccups, but it has not happened and still long shadows of darkness continue to reel and haunt them with no immediate relief in sight. The power-cuts are being witnessed even in metered segments of the Valley, falsifying tall claims of the Power Development Department of supplying uninterrupted electricity to them.
Moreover, it is baffling to observe that the State of J&K has been facing power crisis and its large segments continue to remain under long shadows of darkness despite rich water resources. The power projects already taken-up and completed have not given any major relief to the people of the State as such projects are Centrally sponsored and their major share is taken away by their executors. However, it was heartening to learn that the J&K Government and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation of India (NHPC) had formally agreed upon the equity share in respect of three major power projects coming up on the river Chenab. A decision had been taken to float a Corporation with the name `Chenab Valley Corporation’ with its Chairman from Jammu and Kashmir. As per terms of the agreement, the J&K and NHPC had agreed upon the ratio of equity share in case of power sharing and employment. In power sharing, the equity share was to be 49 per cent to State and 51 per cent to NHPC. In case of employment, the sharing ratio would be 80:20 in Class IVth employees and in middle and top class posts it would remain 49:51. Besides the NHPC would give 12 per cent free power to the State and the same would be in addition to the equity share.
Besides to bring about efficiency and commercial viability in the power sector in J&K, the Government of India is on record to have identified distribution reforms as the key area and launched `Accelerated Power Development Programme’ during 2000-01. The scheme was to finance the projects relating to renovation and modernization, life extension and upgradation of old power plants. It included upgradation of sub-transmission and distribution network, including energy accounting and installation of meters, both in domestic and commercial establishments. The project costing Rs.6.99 crore was framed by the PDD for effective metering of all feeders and HT lines. The MoU was signed in April 2002 whereunder it was agreed to complete the metering of all feeders by December 2002, undertake energy audit at all levels and bring down losses to 25 per cent by December 2006. The scheme was renamed as `Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme’ in 2003 and it was to focus on upgradation of sub-transmission and distribution in densely electrified segments of urban and industrial areas and bring improvement in commercial viability of the State Electricity Boards. To cover 12 districts of the State, 6 projects estimated to cost Rs.1100 crore were framed by the State Government and approved by Government of India during 2002-06. But it is unfortunate that the Department has failed to implement the guidelines laid down in the said programme so far. This is the reason that people of the Valley are face to face with frequent disruptions in power supply.
“The State being blessed with rich water resources could have taken its people to the heights of economic welfare, but wrong policies of the State Governments so far have caused a severe set back to the economy. The priorities of the governments so far have not been up to the mark and crores and crores of rupees have been pumped into such schemes, which are actually non-productive. Had money been pumped into power and industry sectors, the face of the State would have been quite different today. It is always planning process that matters most, but this has been ignored. It is also seen at the Central level Five-Year Plans launched so far have not been able to solve the unemployment problem. There has been a steady increase in the number of jobless youths, both skilled and unskilled, posing a grave threat to the structure of the State. It is better that the present Government concentrates on power generation which in due course of time shall help in expanding industrial base in the State. With the expansion of industry, not only economy, but gruesome problem of unemployment shall also be solved to a great extend”, said a group of experienced persons of Kashmir Valley.
Hence people seek intervention by the Governor N.N. Vohra so that all pros and cons of the issue are spelt out and steps taken to tap and harness the available hydel potential and alleged export of power not allowed, especially when the Valliets are reeling under dark and thick shadows of darkness. It will help the State to get more power and also unemployment problem can be addressed in a better manner and fashion. It is also imperative for the State Government to persuade the Central Government to transfer Salal and Uri Power Projects to the State to tide over power shortage, which has gripped people in a big way. The sooner this is done the better
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