Govt keen on transfer of power projects : Taj

Excelsior Correspondent
SALAMABAD (URI), June 30: Describing the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) report on the transfer of power projects to J&K as a historic document, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today hoped that the State would soon get back Salal and Uri-I power projects.
Addressing a public meeting here today, the Minister said on their transfer back the two power projects would earn the State a revenue of Rs. 3500 crore annually. He said the Cabinet Sub Committee report on the transfer of power projects, which has been ratified by the State cabinet also, is a historic document which has clearly laid down guidelines for power usage agreements for future.
Taj said the State Government would vigorously follow the transfer of these power projects back to the State. He said the keenness of the State Government can be gauged from the fact that Water Resources Act-2010 has been executed and implemented in the State in letter and spirit and it has enhanced the State income by a whopping 30%.
Hailing the local people for facing the difficulties, including loss of land, during the construction of these projects, Taj said the meeting held at New Delhi between him and Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde has taken care of their grievances. He appealed people to end their 105 day long strike at the project site. He said that NHPC, the project executing agency, would recruit local youth to Class III and Class IV vacancies at the project. He said the company would also train these youth at ITI, Uri for their absorption in the company.
The Minister said that as a sequel to the decisions in the meeting held at New Delhi, free power from these projects would be provided to all the BPL families in the catchment area. Also, he said, the company would be spending 1% of the project cost for development of the area.