Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 3: In first major contribution from Prime Minister’s Development Plan (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir, the State Government today released Rs 360 crores as its equity toward prestigious Pakal-Dul hydro-electric project over river Marusudar, a tributary of Chenab at village Drangdhuram near Dul, about 45 kilometers from Kishtwar district.
With the release of State equity, stage is set for formal start of work on 1000 mw power project, which will generate 3330.18 MUs in 90 per cent dependable year and 49 per cent of power generated from the project will go to Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Government today approved release of Rs 360 crores State equity from the Prime Minister’s Development Plan worth Rs 80,000 crores, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a historic rally at Lal Chowk, Srinagar on November 7 last year.
A provision of Rs 4153 crores equity for Pakal Dul project has been kept in the PMDP itself, which was in addition to Rs 3790 crores for power infrastructure development.
The release of Rs 360 crores for the power project was the first major initiative of the Government from the PMDP to launch the projects, which had been conceived much back but were awaiting funding for their launch. So far, the PMDP has been utilized only for distribution of release among flood victims for their rehabilitation and some other initiatives.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had approved the cost of Pakal-Dul project at Rs 8112 crores. However, price level of the project was likely to go up due to delay in start of the project.
According to sources, the power project, was scheduled to be completed in 66 months (five and a half year) from start of the work. Sources said work on the project could now start anytime following release of Rs 360 crores as the State equity by the Government.
The Project, according to sources, will be executed by Chenab Valley Power Project Corporation (CVPPC). The National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) are 49 per cent promoters each while Power Trading Corporation Limited is 2 per cent promoter.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who holds the charge of Power Development Department, took the initiative for release of the State equity to ensure early start of work on the power project.
Sources said Jammu and Kashmir will have 49 per cent share in the power generated by Pakal-Dul hydro-electric project and, when constructed, it will give major boost to power prospectus of the State, which has to purchase electricity from outside at exorbitant rates, a result of which the power arrears of the State have gone up manifold.
The project will be constructed over river Marusudar, which is main tributary of river Chenab, at village Drangdhuram, located at a distance of about 45 kilometers from Kishtwar.
It will have 167 meters high concrete face rock-fill dam while its underground powerhouse will be located at Dul, about 26 kilometers from Kishtwar. The project will yield 3330.18 MU electricity in 90 per cent dependable year.
Sources said with a provision of Rs 4153 crores equity for Pakal-Dul project in Prime Minister’s Development Plan, funding for the project will not be a major problem once work on it gets initiated.
The 4×250 (1000 mw) project, according to sources, could start in about six months time as its first tendering had been cancelled and it will go for new bidding now.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced Rs 80,000 crores worth Prime Minister’s Development Plan for Jammu and Kashmir on November 7, 2015 during a rally held at Srinagar.
A number of power and road projects including the National Highways were part of the Development Plan for which the funds have started flowing from the Central Government.
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