Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 4: With the Cabinet accepting the proposal of the Power Development Department, the State has started march towards implementation of hydro-electric projects through universally accepted mode——Swiss Challenge Method. This will help the Government in tapping available power potential without making much effort and save the time in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports besides getting necessary clearances from different authorities at the Central Government level.
The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, also gave nod to the amendment in the J&K State Legislature Members Pension Act, 2011 in order to provide pension revision arrears to the former Legislators on the pattern of sitting Legislators.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that after thorough discussion on the proposal of the Power Development Department, the Cabinet gave nod to the adoption of Swiss Challenge Method on pilot basis for the development of Parakachik-Panikher and Shutkari Kulan Hydro Electric Projects.
The development of these projects will commence with preparation of DPR by M/s HCC for Parakachik-Panikher HEP and M/s S P Infra for Shutkari-Kulan HEP from whom the unsolicited proposal has been received at a capped cost of Rs 10 crore and Rs 4.45 crore respectively with the condition that these DPRs are bankable and as per the guidelines of Central Electricity Authority, sources said.
The DPR will get cleared by the developer from various agencies of the Government of India like CEA, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as Indus Water Commission from Indus Water Treaty angle. The cost of the DPRs will not exceed 1% to 1.5% of total project cost subject to a maximum of Rs 10 crore and Rs 4.45 crore respectively.
“After the techno economic viability is ascertained on the basis of DPR, Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation will obtain an offer from M/s HCC and M/s S P Infra for development of the respective projects on BOOT basis on the same parameters as that of Ratle——Upfront premium, free power to J&K and return of the project to JKSPDC after fixed duration”, sources informed.
Thereafter, the offer will be thrown open to qualified competitors through open bidding based on the DPRs and the originator will be asked to match the best offer so obtained. In the event of failure to match the best offer, M/s HCC and M/s SP Infra will be allowed to take an exit on reimbursement of the capped cost of DPR by the JKSPDC and the project will be awarded to the qualified competitor offering the best bid.
In response to a question, they said that in the event of the project turning out to be unviable (during preparation of DPR) necessitating abandonment of the activity, no liability whatsoever will accrue to the JKSPDC. “The progress on preparation of DPR will be closely monitored so that the same is completed within 24 months for Parakachik-Panikher and 15-18 months for Shutkari-Kulan”, sources added.
They said that this method is being used by many smaller States including Himachal Pradesh for the past several years and it is for the first time that Jammu and Kashmir would be adopting this universally acclaimed method. “This method would go long way in tapping the available power potential particularly in the shape of small projects, which can be completed much earlier than the big projects”, sources added.
According to the sources, Cabinet also gave nod to the amendment in the J&K State Legislature Members Pension Act, 2011 in order to provide pension revision arrears to the former Legislators on the pattern of sitting Legislators. “The Amendment Bill will be tabled during the ongoing session of State Legislature”, they added.
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