Minister seized the opportunity of inaugurating the 450 MW hydroelectric power station Baglihar II. It is situated in Chenab Valley. For all the six decades in the past, Chenab Valley remained neglected and underestimated. Now with the Prime Minister attributing it the power hub of the country, hopefully Chenab valley and the River Chenab meandering through its mountains will change the destiny of the entire State. The Prime Minister is hopeful that by 2022 every household in the country will be provided with electricity. This is not a small thing. Our country and our State in particular are faced with acute shortage of power. We had not the funds to harness the water of the rivers that flow though our mountains. Three hydroelectric power-generating projects are under the consideration of the State and Central authorities. Work on three major hydroelectric projects-1000 Mega Watt capacity Pakal Dul, 624 Mega Watt Kiru and 540 Mega Watt capacity Kwar, whose fate was hanging in balance during the past quite long time, is going to begin next year. These projects would generate 2164 Mega Watts of electricity and steer J&K from power-starved status to power sufficient stage.
We shall repeat that with the announcement of the Prime Minister that the centre would extend financial support to these projects, all the responsibility comes to the doorstep of the State Government. It has to gear up to initiating the projects and bringing these to completion within the stipulated time. It is of great importance that these projects maintain the time schedule failing which the State will be in an embarrassing situation. We hope that the State Government will not lose a single day in starting work on these three projects and respond to the expectations of the people of the State.