‘Rahul maligned India’s reputation abroad’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 11: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G K Reddy today said Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and three generations of Prime Ministers before him were aware that J&K had tremendous potential to generate 18,000 MW Hydropower but it was never tapped.
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“While the State Government has added only 1,197 MW of power since independence, Modi Government is adding another 3,014 MW capacity by 2025-26. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the J&K Government had to spend approximately Rs 9,500 crore on power purchases through the Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited. Power deficit of Jammu & Kashmir has been reduced from 17.8% during 2018-19 to 7.5% during the year 2023-24,” Reddy, who is canvassing here for J&K Assembly elections, said in a statement.
He said Rahul is the quint essential election tourist.
“During elections, he campaigns, spouts rubbish without context or facts and then leaves and his local election unit is forced to clean up the mess that he creates. As he continues to lose one election after the other, his lies have gotten more and more desperate,” he asserted.
“During his recent visit to the United States, Rahul Gandhi once again exhibited his errant behaviour by maligning India’s reputation on foreign soil. His baseless claims and portrayal of a negative image of the country not only misrepresents the facts but also undermines the progress and achievements of our country,” Reddy said.
Before that, in his recent trip to campaign for his party in Jammu and Kashmir, Rahul further validates this errant behaviour. In a recent election rally, Rahul stated that while J&K was providing power to the rest of the country, the residents of J&K were paying more than other parts. These are lies that need to be countered as facts on the ground show a different picture, he asserted.
The Union Minister said “Why is it that it was never tapped? Due to neglect of various governments in the past, especially the INC at the Centre and the NC and PDP in the State, only 3,400 MW of this potential were realised in the past 70 years out of which the erstwhile State has added only 1197 MW of power, the Union Minister said.
As a result, he said, in the fiscal year 2023-24, the J&K Government had to spend approximately Rs 9,500 crore on power purchases through the Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL) to meet the electricity demand of consumers, commercial units and industry in J&K.
“The Government of India believes that the energy needs of J&K needs to be met and hence the power deficit of Jammu & Kashmir has been reduced from 17.8% during the year 2018-19 to 7.5% during the year 2023-24. This was done by purchasing power from outside the State,” he added.
Over the past decade, the Government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working to add power capacity in Jammu and Kashmir on a war footing. Another 3,014 MW capacity is to be added by 2025-26, he said, adding that by 2026, a total of 10,614 Million Units of energy will be generated annually in J&K and new projects contributing to this addition include:
For Pakaldul, 1,000 MW, at a cost of Rs. 8,112 crores, all contracts have been awarded and work execution in full swing and project is expected to be completed in September 2026, Ratle, 850 MW Rs. 5,282 crores also all contracts awarded and work execution in full swing and projects expected to be completed in May 2026 while for Kiru, 624 MW (Rs. 4,287 crores) all also contracts awarded work execution in full swing. Project will be completed in March 2026, he added.
For Kwar, 540 MW, (Rs. 4,526 crores) all civil works contract have been awarded and work execution is in full swing. Project completion target is November 2026.
“Further, between 1947 and 2019 a total transformation capacity of only 8,394 MVA was created in the Transmission sector which was inadequate to meet the summer/winter peak demand. Between April 01, 2019 to March 31, 2024, a massive capacity addition of 4,520 MVA has been achieved through the creation/augmentation of 38 Grid Sub Stations across J&K. Additionally, a transmission Plan worth Rs 4,950 cr to be implemented in next 3 years,” Reddy said.
He said Rahul with a total lack of knowledge continues to peddle lies and half-truths. His knowledge on power also reflects a similar lack of understanding, he added.
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