The obsolete and the worn out must pave the way for the modern and the new to ensure better utility and returns is what has landed at the 42 year old hydroelectric project at Laddan near Chenani in Udhampur district. A project of yesteryears was inching towards a permanent shut down following not being in a position to even generate electricity at less than the half of its capacity. This project remained under forced shut down for three years because of damage caused to it during the landslides in 2005. Some grain of life was infused into it in the shape of repairs at a cost of Rs.8 crore.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) decided to deregulate the generation capacity to 16 Mega Wats . However, the obsolete machinery proved an impediment even in that leading to its permanent imminent demise but innovative and bold steps often do wonders. With this feeling, the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Department Corporation decided to infuse fresh lease of life to the project. As such, a detailed project report was formulated for the project’s modernization in the shape of the replacement of entire obsolete machinery and other equipment.
The efforts of the JKSPDC are timely and relevant looking to the vast gap of the demand for and the supply of power in the state vis-à-vis the state’s own generation capacity. The position becomes difficult in winter months due to low productivity and more requirement. It is in that context that the revamping and reviving measures are decided to be taken up, rather the exercise has begun. The new machinery therefore would help in generation of electricity from this project, currently having 5 turbines, up to its full capacity and help in supplementing the efforts towards having adequate availability of power. The modernization of and infusing new life in the project shall cost Rs.35 crores which shall be shared by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the JKSPDC.
Electro-mechanical works shall cost the major portion of the project totaling Rs.29 crore and the rest on civil works. It would augur well if the same approach is employed in other generating projects where problems initially may be of small nature but could snowball into major ones if not detected early. We cannot afford to treat a sector as vital as power in a casual way and leave no stone unturned to keep the projects in good running conditions.
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