Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 13: With the commissioning of the 330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project in Bandipora district of Kashmir Valley next year, the total generation of hydro electric power by NHPC in the State will touch 2339 MWs by next year.
The Kishanganga will be the eighth hydro electric project under NHPC which will become operational from next year in the State of J&K. The project will be commissioned by November next year and the work on it is going in full swing and about 80 percent work of the Project is almost complete at present.
As per the data available with Excelsior, the NHPC has already seven power projects under operation in the border State of J&K with a total generating capacity of 2009 MWs of power at present. But with the commissioning of the Kishan-ganga Project this generation will increase to 2339 MWs.
The NHPC sources said the work on Kishanganga Project which comprises of three units of 110 MW each was started in January, 2009 and it will give annually energy benefit of 1350 Mu. The sanctioned cost of project was Rs 3642.04 crore and revised cost has touched Rs 5783.17 crore, sources added.
Sources said that the unit sale rate of generation of power from this project will be Rs 2.99/KWh for first year, sources added.
Though the project got the technical clearance in August 2005 while environment clearance was given in March 2006 and Forest clearance was given in May 2008 but work was actually started in 2009 after completion of all formalities.
Sources said the transmission line of the project will simultaneously be completed with the project to connect it with Northern Grid.
The project has a 9.50 m dia, horse shaped tunnel having a length of 560 metres and diversion capacity 1000 cusecs with upstream and downstream cofferdams. It has a concrete faced rock fill dam with a height 37 mtrs above river bed with three spillway gates of size 7.0 mx9.5m.
The project has a 23.50 km head race tunnel and a underground power house consisting of two caverns, one power house cavern and one transformer hall cavern. Besides, it has a ventilation cum cable tunnel of 575 m length. It has a main access tunnel (MAT) to power house crown of 740 m length and a horse shoe shaped Tale Race tunnel of 849 m length.
The switchyard of the project will be constructed near Kralpora village in Bandipora.
Sources said the work is presently going with full speed and about 80 percent work of the project is complete. However, due to chilly winter the work will remain closed for some time in dam site, sources added.
Sources said among the seven projects of NHPC which are under operation included 690 MW Salal Hydel Project in Reasi district, 390 Dulhasti in Kishtwar district, 120 MW Sewa II in Kathua district of Jammu region and 480 MW and 240 MW Uri First and Second in Kashmir Valley respectively.
Besides, NHPC has constructed 44 mw power project in Chutak in Kargil district and 45 MW project in Nimo of Leh district in Ladakh region.
However, only 10 to 15 MW power is generated from these twin projects in Ladakh region as required by locally at present. Due to lack of transmission Line from Kashmir to Ladakh, the surplus power can’t be transmitted to this side. This power could be transmitted to other parts of the State only after the completion or work on transmission line by 2018, sources said.
Sources said though Chutak Power Project in Kargil has a capacity of generating 44 MW of power it generates only five mws as other turbines are kept idle. Same is case with Nimoo Power House in Leh where only 10 to 12 MWs are generated at peak hour from one turbine while rest remain closed.
Presently NHPC is paying over Rs 600 crore to J&K State as water cess annually and it is the only State in the country where NHPC is paying water charges, sources said.
Surprised over demand of water charges by State Government, sources said the J&K is only State in country which demands water usage charges from NHPC. The company only uses the water for generating electricity and then supply 12 percent power free of cost to the State, sources added.
Sources said NHPC serves the State by putting its natural resources to use to boost the power production. The land as well as water remains there and it can be reutilized for irrigation and other purposes. Hence, there was no fun of imposing water usage charges on the Corporation by the State Government, sources added.
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