Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: Minister of State for Power, Housing and Urban Development, Asiea Naqash today claimed that out of the 16475 MW hydel power potential available in the J&K State, 3263 MW has been harnessed from three rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Indus.
While replying to a question of PDP member Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, the Minister claimed that over 3263.46 MW power has so far been harnessed against 16475 MW potential from three major rivers of the State as assessed by Central Electricity Authority.
She further said that Power projects on the three western rivers of Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus have been executed under State/Central/IPP mode.
The Minister disclosed that the State Government has laid a roadmap to make J&K power surplus state adding a total 13076 MW projects are under various stages of development, 1401 MW projects are under execution by the State/Central/IPP mode, 5162 MW projects have been cleared by CEA/CWC and are at tendering stage; 1818 MW projects are under survey and investigation/DPR/Appraisal stage, 4359 MW projects are under PFR stage, while 306.5 MW proposed projects are being taken up under PMDP.
PDP member, Firdous Ahmad Tak raised the supplementary to the main question and demanded that Government should ensure proper utilization of funds for local area development under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the areas where the Power projects are coming up.
Responding to yet another question, the Minister said that 450 MW BHEP-II commenced its operation during 2016. As per State Govt approval, 60% power was to be sold through PTC in open market and 40% to the State PDD at SERC approved tariff. However, due to huge slump in power market during 2016- 2017, JKSPDC could not find buyers for the 60 % power in open market at acceptable rate to avoid loss of revenue to JKSPDC and the State Govt. Therefore during the period entire 450 MW was sold to J&K state, and thus, there was no loss to the SPDC.
Mr Manhas pleaded that for the last three years, no new power project was taken up by the Government. And during 70 years only 3000 plus MW power potential could be exploited out of the total potential in the State. Majority of the State is facing crisis, specially Kashmir division due to shortage of power. Most of the areas remain under darkness. The minister claimed that with the completion of new projects taken in hands, the power crisis will be over.
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