If Only Capabilities Would Match Dreams

Imagine a Public Sector Undertaking, considered among the most corrupt by the Transparency International (TI), promises to deliver 3,000 MW of power in the next five years. A small hitch overlooked, it only generated 3 MW of new power in last 5 years

3 MWs in Past 5 Yrs: PDC Wants to Produce 3000 in Next 5 Yrs

Nazir Ganaie (Kashmir Observer)

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (PDC), which for past five years has generated only 3 MW of power, Monday announced that it would generate 3000 MW in next five years.

The announcement was made by the Managing Director JKSPDC Basharat Ahmad Dhar. Dhar conceded that since its establishment the JKSPDC has not performed well. He cited many reasons for the dismal performance of the JKSPDC including lack of finances. “But now things have changed. More than 40 hydropower projects having 8298 MW capacity are coming up in J&K in next 10 years, both in the state and central sector,” Dhar said.

“Projects 3231.85 MW capacities are targeted during 12th five year plan out of which 1230.85 MWs projects are in state sector and 659 MWs projects are in the central sector. The Corporation is actively involved in implementation of 600 MW Kiru, 500 MW Kawar and 1000 MW Pokal Dul in joint venture with NHPC and PTC.” He said the interests of the State are being watched and safeguarded by the Corporation in this regard. He said the generation sector is a panacea for the economic stability of the State and the JKSPDC management is completely focused on capacity addition through construction of new projects,” Dhar said at a press conference here.

Dhar along with Principal Secretary, Power, Jammu and Kashmir government Sudhanshu Pandey and President India TECH Foundation (ITF) was briefing the media about 2-day International Hydropower Convention commencing from tomorrow here. “We have a target of 3000 MW power generation during 12th five year plan.” Dhar said. Pandey too made significant announcement during the briefing. He said state does not need counter guarantee from government of India for foreign investment in the power sector. “It (counter guarantee) is no longer required. It was a must in the past, but now scenario has changed,” Pandey said.

It is for the first time the Power Ministry of the State Government has come up with such a declaration. Earlier the State Government had to shelve 340 MW Kishanganga Project and 1200 MW Sawlakote power projects as the Centre Government refused to provide counter guarantees. “We have received nine bids for New Ganderbal project,” said Pandey. “Hydropower is really a very important sector to support the country for various ways. This is really going to benefit the state as well as all the stakeholders working together for harnessing the major areas of hydropower sectors in the this state,” Pandey said. He hoped that this endeavor would provide sufficient information about the latest trends in hydro power development as well as the hydro power potential in the State and would also enthuse the developers to take up harnessing the J&K’s hydro power potential of over 20,000 MWs. He said a national level hydro-training institute was coming up at Ganderbal in joint venture with the NHPC. He also said the purpose of holding the convention here was to highlight J&K’s strategy and initiatives taken to harness State’s hydro power resources. He said renowned power experts, developers, business companies from all over the world are attending the convention to deliberate on harnessing energy in the Himalayan region with special focus on J&K. Earlier Dhar said for setting up of 450-MWs Baglihar-II Jammu and Kashmir Bank and Power Trading Corporation have provided Rs 2000 crore financing. “This is for the first time that the financial institutions have not asked for mortgaging of our assets,” Dhar said.

President India Tech foundation Inder Mohan said as per Central Electricity Regulatory estimates, J&K has 25000 MW potential. “Only 10 percent of it is being harnessed. The process needs to be speeded up,” Mohan said. “We had a detailed meeting with the chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this regard last year when and he too was of the view as far as the hydropower is concerned. Besides that more and more hydro-electricity needed to be generated for the benefit of the state, the people living there and for the country’s benefit,” he added. Mohan reveled the Jammu and Kashmir state has the potential of producing 20,0000 MGW hydropower but quoting official records that only 10 per cent of it have been made utilized. “There is a great need to harness the maximum hydropower as soon as possible that is the only reason we have organized this kind of convention to address the various matters related to harness hydropower from this state,” Mohan said. He said that his organization (ITF) has been organizing such type of conventions for emphasizing on the need of the harnessing more and more hydro power rich areas in the county.

“Electricity is vital for the any prosperous economy and the need of the hour is to exploit these rich areas for the larger benefit,” Mohan said. “J&K has the potential of producing nearly 25,000 MGW- of which less than 10 per cent is being harnessed. Therefore it has provided us a major opportunity to tap this potential,” Mohan added.