Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 13: Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Upper House of the J&K legislature during tiff between National Conference legislator Devender Singh Rana and Opposition PDP member Nayeem Akhtar Andrabi over the issue of handing over of Dul Hasti Power project to J&K by the NHPC.
The issue was raised by Mr Rana during Question Hour, regarding recommendations of the Dr C Rangrajan Committee on handing over of Dul Hasti Hydel Power project to J&K. He also sought steps taken by the Government in this regard and non-implementation of recommendations and Prime Minister’s Working Group on Economic reforms in the State.
Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool was responding. Mr Rana pleaded the `chair’ to allow him to move a unanimous resolution in the House seeking consent of all the members with regard to the handing over of 390 MW Dul Hasti Power Project to J&K Government by NHPC. The members also pressed for providing 25 % power share to J&K from the projects taken up by NHPC.
As the NC member pressed for unanimous resolution on taking control of Dul Hasti Power project on Chenab river in Kishtwar, PDP member Nayeem Akhtar stood up and said, “no unanimity………?” Reacting to the initial two words of Mr Akhtar, Mr Rana stood up and asked PDP member to clear their party stand on the issue of taking control of power projects in J&K. He asked whether PDP leadership has made shift in its stand of raising this issue on earlier occasions or it was merely a drama. Ashraf Mir also stood up in support of his party member and tried to say something but Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Shehnaz Ganai and Abdul Majid Bhat were also got involved in the process of passing comments on opposition.
It was followed by process of allegations and counter allegations. The heated exchanges between two sides continued for about seven minutes. A furious Nayeem pointed out that Farooq Abdullah sold State power to NHPC and now Omar is doing the same. This again irked the NC members and heated exchanges continued for some time. The Chairman failed to restore order in the House. However, the members took to their seats when the Chairman announced that Question Hour was over at 11 am. The proceedings remained disrupted for over 7- minutes.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Power while replying said that after approval by the Cabinet a Cabinet Sub Committee was constituted for the purpose. J&K SPDC was authorized to work out the present cost of the project on the basis of internationally accepted norms which could form basis for further negotiations with the Government of India and NHPC. Referring to summarized recommendations, Mr Vikar said with regard to the transfer of 390 MW Dul Hasti Hydel Power Project from NHPC to J&K State, compensation to NHPC/ other beneficiaries of the project amounting to Rs 4933 crore to be paid by the GoI over next 10 years period.
On the latest status, the Minister said the Central Government has stated that the transfer of Dul Hasti project to the State may not be possible due to likely financial and some legal implications.
Follow our WhatsApp channel