Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 7: Though People’s Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party Coalition Government is claiming that required focus will be laid on power sector, it has failed to infuse new lease of life in two major companies entrusted with the task of harnessing power potential available in the State. Due to this, several vital decisions including the one on Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar district are getting delayed and would have detrimental impact on the interests of the power-starved Jammu and Kashmir.
These two major companies are Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL) and Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPL). The JKSPDCL, which was incorporated as private limited company on February 16, 1995, has been entrusted with the task of harnessing hydel potential available in the State.
Similarly, CVPPL, which was incorporated as Joint Venture Company on June 13, 2011, is handling the execution of three hydroelectric projects namely Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar with aggregate capacity of 2220 Mega Watts at Chenab river basin.
The major decisions in both these companies are taken by their respective Board of Directors but presently both the Boards are almost defunct because no decision has so far been taken by the present PDP-BJP Coalition Government to infuse new lease of life in them, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
The Board of Directors of JKSPDCL has not been reconstituted by the present Coalition Government ever since its formation about two months back, sources said while disclosing that the Board of Directors is required to be reconstituted by making present Chief Minister as its Chairman and nominating new Directors.
What to talk of Board of Directors even full-time Managing Director of the Corporation has not been appointed following demitting of office by Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo and presently Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, Sundeep Kumar Nayak is holding the additional charge of the post of MD JKSPDCL.
“In the absence of new Board of Directors and full time Managing Director, the decision on 850 Mega Watt Ratle Hydroelectric Project on River Chenab in Kishtwar district is hanging in balance”, sources said. Presently, the work on project stands abandoned by Hyderabad-based GVK Company as it has laid certain conditions for resumption of work and only Board of Directors of JKSPDCL can hold deliberations with the company before any decision is taken by the State Government.
“In this way, the delay in reconstitution of Board of Directors of JKSPDCL is delaying decision on fate of this ambitious project, which was allotted through Tariff Based Bidding methodology for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir”, sources said.
The Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited is a Joint Venture Company of NHPC Limited, JKSPDCL and Power Trading Corporation (PTC) India Limited. As per the Memorandum of Understanding, there shall be Chairman and two Directors from Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation and two Directors and Managing Director from NHPC.
“Both the posts of Directors, which fall in the domain of JKSPDC are lying vacant following transfer of former Principal Secretary PDD A K Mehta to Central Deputation and leaving of assignment of CVPPL by M A Salroo”, sources said. Since the nominations for the posts of two Directors are to be made by the JKSPDCL, the delay in reconstitution of its Board of Directors is delaying nomination of two Directors to CVPPL also.
“As far as Chairman of CVPPL is concerned, M Y Khan had tendered his resignation following taking over of reigns of the State by new dispensation but PDP-BJP Coalition has yet not taken decision on his resignation”, sources informed.
“Though major policy decisions with regard to Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects have already been taken, full fledged Board of Directors is imperative to take decisions on issues concerning these projects”, they said. The CVPPL has been entrusted with the task of executing these projects on Build, Own, Operate and Maintain (BOOM) basis.
By delaying the process of infusing new lease of life in these two companies entrusted with the task of harnessing power potential, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government is making mockery of its own tall claims about attaching much importance to the power sector and tapping of available power potential.
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