MoP taking steps for resolution of all outstanding issues
Several major reasons identified for delay in completion
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 29: Four power projects of nearly 2000 Mega Watts (MW) capacity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are facing time overrun of five to eight years because of host of reasons and in order to ensure that they are completed within the anticipated time-frame Union Power Ministry is initiating steps for resolution of all the outstanding issues.
As per the official figures available with EXCELSIOR, all the four units of Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar district having capacity to generate 250 Mega Watts of electricity each were scheduled to be completed during 2020-21 financial year but because of host of reasons the project having total capacity of 1000 Mega Watts has missed the deadline.
The project is facing time overrun of over five years as the executing agency has conveyed to the Government that all the four units will be commissioned during 2025-26 financial year. During 2018-19, an amount of Rs 176.60 crore was spent on the project while as during 2019-20 the expenditure was to the tune of Rs 251.04 crore.
Similarly, during 2020-21, an amount of Rs 429.55 crore was spent on this project and during the current financial year (2021-22), merely Rs 173.13 crore could be spent till June because of varied reasons.
Parnai Hydroelectric Project in Poonch district, which will generate 37.5 Mega Watts of electricity was scheduled to be completed during 2017-18 financial year but the executing agency failed to meet the deadline and now it is claimed that all the three units of the project each having capacity to generate 12.5 Mega Watts of electricity will be completed during 2022-23 financial year.
As per the official figures, an amount of Rs 53.12 crore was spent in 2018-19 while as during 2019-20 expenditure was to the tune of Rs 32.07 crore. The expenditure was further declined during 2020-21 and 2021-22 when it was recorded at Rs 17.95 crore and Rs 6.08 crore respectively.
Lower Kalnai Hydroelectric Project in Doda district, the construction of which was started several years back in order to generate 48 Mega Watts of electricity and was slated to be completed during 2017-18 is facing time overrun of over eight years as project executing agency has conveyed to the Government that both the units will be commissioned during 2025-26 subject to re-start of work.
During the past four years not even a single penny could be spent on the project because of abandoning of work by the executing agency due to certain disputes with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
Similarly, Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Doda was originally scheduled to be completed during 2017-19 financial year but it is facing time overrun of over eight years because of abandoning of work by the executing agency. The project having capacity to generate 850 Mega Watts of electricity will be completed during 2025-26 provided the work is restarted.
Kiru project, which will generate 624 Mega Watts of electricity is facing time overrun of one year as such it will be commissioned during 2024-25 provided work is executed smoothly. On this project, an amount of Rs 24.96 crore was spent during 2018-19, Rs 177.25 crore during 2019-20, Rs 185.68 crore during 2020-21 and Rs 55.15 crore during current year till June.
Union Ministry of Power has identified several reasons for delay in completion of these projects which include slow work due to COVID pandemic, contractual issues, delay in supply of equipment by the manufacturers, delay in land acquisitions, disruption of work due to local issues, litigations, delay due to change in design and geological surprises.
In order to ensure that these projects meet the anticipated timelines, the Union Power Ministry and Central Electricity Authority are monitoring the progress through frequent site visits and interaction with the developers and other stakeholders.
“Regular reviews are being undertaken in Power Ministry to identify the constraint areas to facilitate faster resolution of inter-ministerial and other outstanding issues”, sources said, adding “various matters related to project implementation are also being taken up with the J&K Government for facilitating the support in resolving the issues”.
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