Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Minister of State for Power, Vikar Rasool has said that a thermal power project with the capacity of 1000 mw is coming up in Kathua and the State will import coal block for the same while nearly Rs 11 lakh is being spent on the salary of the workers of Kalakot thermal plant.
The Minister while responding to the question of Congress legislator Ravinder Sharma in the Upper House today said that there was not proposal to revive Kalakote Thermal Plant but Govt has planned to start 1000 mw thermal power plant near Kathua shortly and the State will import coal bloc for the same. Mr Sharma pressed that if the Government was keen to start Kathua thermal plant then what was the problem is starting Kalakot plant for which it is spending Rs 11 lakh on salaries of workers every year. He said the machinery worth crores was lying there and getting damaged. Moreover, a large number of people were sitting idle. There was power scarcity in the State and by making this plant functional, the power position in the area will be improved.
Replying to the main question of Mr Sharma, the Minister said that vide Cabinet decision in the year 1989, 22.5 mw Kalakote Thermal Plant which was under shut down from 1987, was decided to be closed due to non-availability of coal of requisite quantity. He said the cost of machinery and other equipment has not been evaluated. No expenditure is being incurred on its maintenance and operation. Replying to another question, he said there was no proposal to revive this plant as no sufficient coal was available there.
Mr Sharma said recently it was discovered that some more coal reserves were there in the area. If sufficient reserves are available, whether the Govt will consider its operation. And if the Govt plans to import coal block from outside, will it import another coal block to make Kalakote plant functional?
The Minister assured the House that he will examine and look into the possibility of making this plant operational. Ajat Shatru Singh from NC said if the Government was unable to make it functional it should hand over it to the private party on PPP mode. Dr B A Veeri also raised supplementary on the issue. Mr Sharma also asked for the status of Siot Grid Station and pleaded that power supply be improved in Nowshera and Kalakot area as promised with the installation of 50 MVA transformer.
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