Need of alternate line between capital cities via Rajouri-Poonch stressed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 17: In order to meet the electricity requirement during winter months when generation from hydro projects comes down considerably, State Government has demanded one each Thermal and Solar Power Projects from the Union Government besides alternate transmission line between Jammu and Srinagar via twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch for dependable power supply to snow bound areas. The State has also reiterated the demand of Rs 1000 crore equity assistance for the construction of Stage-II of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project on river Chenab at Chanderkote in Ramban district.
These requirements were projected by the Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan during the Power Ministers Conference convened by the Planning Commission of India at Union Capital today. The State was also represented by Principal Secretary to Power Development Department, Sudhanshu Pandey in the Conference, which was chaired by Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Since the power generation from the hydro electric projects comes down considerably during the winter months because of low discharge in almost all the rivers, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah about two years back had taken up the demand for establishing Thermal Power Plant with the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.
While reiterating demand for sanctioning 1320 Mega Watts of Thermal Power Plant in the favour of Jammu and Kashmir during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), Mr Khan told the Power Ministers Conference that Thermal Power Plant was imperative to avoid power crisis during winter months, when the consumption of electricity particularly in Kashmir valley and snow bound areas of Jammu region increases significantly.
“The Secretary in the Union Ministry of Coal, who was also attending the Conference, assured to favourably look into the demand for sanctioning additional coal blocks to Jammu and Kashmir”, sources said, adding “now the State Government in consultation with the Union Government would carry out economic feasibility of Thermal Power Plant”.
The State also projected the demand for sanctioning 500 Mega Watts of Solar Power Plant in the Ladakh region, where there is huge potential of tapping solar energy. The commissioning of the solar plant should be linked with the completion of transmission line between Leh and Srinagar for evacuation of power from the cold desert region, it was stressed during the conference.
It is pertinent to mention here that only 50 to 60 Mega Watts of electricity would get consumed in the Ladakh region and rest would be evacuated to other parts of the State to meet the requirement particularly during winter months. Secretary in the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, who was part of the Conference, assured the Jammu and Kashmir to positively look into this aspect.
Keeping in view the snapping of electricity supply to whole of Kashmir valley during last winter following snag in the only transmission line between two regions of the State, the Minister of State for Power highlighted the urgent necessity of providing alternate transmission line between Jammu and Srinagar that too via twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, where reliable power supply still remains a distant dream.
The State Government chose the option of alternate transmission line over increasing the capacity of existing line on the ground that second line via Rajouri-Poonch would ensure power supply to Kashmir valley even in case of damage to existing line due to massive snowfall.
The State also reiterated the demand of Rs 1000 crore equity assistance for the construction of 450 Mega Watts Stage-II of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project. The issue has already been taken up with the Planning Commission of India, which has agreed to support grant-in-aid for the project on the pattern of Stage-I.
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