WE THE PEOPLE
CM’s stress on completion of Central Power Projects bound to lit more dark hearths, boost economic activity
But Government must take over control of all NHPC Projects to defuse power crisis in J&K
By: Uzair Khan
Srinagar: It is learnt that Omar Abdullah, state Chief Minister, has urged the Union Minister for Power, Jairam Ramesh, to ensure completion of various Central Power Projects at a fast pace which are under implementation in J&K, with special emphasis on Pukaldal, Kishen Ganga, Sawalakot. He has reportedly argued that power is the nerve centre for all economic activities, especially in the field of industries and commerce. Moreover, stress has been laid on development of thermal energy in Ladakh region. This shows need for generation of power has attained the highest importance in the list of priorities of the state government, which has been facing acute power crisis since long. The shortage of power has not only caused deep dent to the industrial and agricultural growth, but has made lives of people quite miserable.
With no respite in the growth of population, demand for power has multiplied manifold in J&K State. It was in this background that the Central Government notified National Electricity Policy in 2005, which aims at accelerated development of the power sector, providing supply of electricity to all areas with reliability, quality and protecting interests of consumers and other stakeholders. This necessitates per capita availability of electricity to be increased to over 1000 units by 2012. But the installed capacity in the country being 130000 MWs, which stands outstripped by the accelerated economic growth. Hence it calls for effective steps so that electricity does not become a constraint on country’s economy. It also calls for harnessing resources, which have remained untouched and unexploited so far. It cannot be ignored that rising global prices of petrol and diesel have brought to the fore the importance of energy independence and minimizing dependence on imports. But this energy independence cannot be achieved by continued reliance on the conventional fossil fuel sources like coal and oil, but by exploiting non-conventional sources like sun, wind, biomes etc. besides nuclear and hydro. The reasons that the fossil fuels are not only limited in supply, but contribute to climate change with far reaching consequences. On other hand, non-conventional sources are free of cost and do not affect well-established environmental standards.
Kashmir Valley has enough hydel potential which has remained largely unexploited so far and hence it is heartening to learn that the present State Administration has called for a holistic approach for tapping the vast hydel potential and has resolved to attain self-sufficiency in the power generation as that would lead to economic development of the State. The State Engineers and Policy Planners of the Power Sector must focus on completing the ongoing schemes in stipulated time-frame and take-up the logistic works like, laying of transmission lines and improving distribution system. It is also learnt that the State Power Development Corporation has been asked to assess the latest status of the State Sector Projects which include 105 MW Upper Sindh Hydel Project-II, 23 MW Chenani-I, Tunnel and other works and 3x.5MW Bhaderwah Project being constructed at a cumulative cost of over Rs.26 crore.
“ The population in J&K has been growing at a fast pace, but the Planners seem to have failed to go for prospective planning, especially in power sector. Had they visualized the future demand and the available hydel potential, they would have mainly concentrated on its exploitation to electrify the State long back. It is always the planning and the vision, which help human welfare. It was the first Prime Minister of India, who had vision of future and as such focused the construction of dams and steel plants in the country. When Bakhra Dam was built, it was he who announced in Indian Parliament that the Engineers had constructed the biggest temple for the countrymen. It was Bakhra that has been providing electricity and irrigation supplies for production of different crops in Punjab. However, it is good that the present State Administration is focussing attention on power generation which is apt to change the economic face of the State”, said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir valley.
Hence State government must take over control of all NHPC Projects to defuse power crisis in J&K. There has been persistent demand for transfer of Salal and Uri power projects to J&K, but the Central government has obliged it so far. Whether the same is done remains to be seen!
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