SRINAGAR, Aug 23:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today flagged the issue of return of power projects by NHPC to the State as of significant importance, saying that losses caused to the State on account of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) are enormous.
While Pakistan and rest of India benefited from the Indus Water Treaty, “the State of Jammu and Kashmir has been put to disadvantageous position,” Omar Abdullah said at a high level meeting of officials from Union Power Ministry and State Power Development Department.
Union Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal also attended the meeting.
He said due to this treaty, Jammu and Kashmir cannot utilize its water resources to its will for generating hydro power, irrigating agriculture fields and providing drinking water to the people.
Omar mentioned the hurdle caused by the Indus Water Treaty in launch of huge water supply project for Greater Jammu to utilise Chenab water to meet the requirements of the people for next 25 years.
He said the issue of return of power projects by the NHPC to the State was of significant importance and critically essential for the energy supply and economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar said that quality and affordable power to the consumers in the State has remained his Government’s priority in the last about six years.
He said while sufficient measures were taken to upgrade the infrastructure and improve power distribution and transmission system, the focus remained on indigenous power generation.
Omar said power sector is the key area to bring turn around in the economic development in the State besides making adequate energy available to the people and exporting the surplus.
“This is the sector which can transform the State from the deficit to the surplus one,” he said, adding that projects of the capacity of 1500 MWs have been launched during the last about six years while projects of the capacity of over 9000 MWs are in different stages of execution.
The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the various power projects under execution in the State would be completed in the fixed time frame with the support of the Centre.
Meanwhile, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal said the Centre will provide necessary financial support to Jammu and Kashmir for realising the potential of generating 20,000 MW electricity in the State.
“Generation of 20,000 MWs should be the goal for us. Let it happen in our time,” Goyal said addressing the meeting.
He said the Central Government will provide all financial support to Jammu and Kashmir to realise this goal.
Goyal said the Government, led by Narendra Modi, has focused on Jammu and Kashmir specially and the development of power sector will receive special place.
He said the issues between the State and the Union Power Ministry can be easily resolved through the process of meetings and interactions.
Goyal said the Union Power Ministry will provide full cooperation to the State in moving ahead confidently on road to achieve new goals in power development sector.
The Minister said the huge potential of 20,000 MW of hydro energy available in the State if harnessed will not only give significant boost to the State’s economy but also benefit the country.
He asked the officers of Union and State Governments to draft detailed project reports for all identified hydel projects so that no delay is caused at the time of the launch of each project.
The Minister welcomed the establishment of Chenab Valley Power Company by the State Government to take up power projects under joint venture mode.
He said this will give considerable fillip to achieve power generation targets.
The Minister said the Modi Government has flagged quality and affordable power generation as an important and priority concern and efforts will be made to provide adequate and affordable power to 125 crore population of the country irrespective of any politics.
He said the country’s economic upliftment, development of social fabric, improvement in the sectors of health, education, industries, agriculture and allied activities besides all round development revolves round the development of power sector.
Goyal said round the clock power supply particularly to the youth to utilize it for achieving economic and technological goals is the endeavour of the Government of India.
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