Thaindian News

Jammu, May 1 (IANS) The National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu and Kashmir’s Power Development Corporation (PDC) have drawn up an ambitious plan to build three projects by 2012 in the power-starved state. The plan comes after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his Kashmir visit last week regretted the delay in power projects in the state.

All three proposed projects will be built on the river Chenab. One of these projects, Pakal Dul will generate 1,000 MW of power.

Earlier, the PDC had wanted to float global tenders for the project, but now it has been decided to partner with the NHPC, a central government enterprise for development of hydro-electricity, PDC sources said.

PDC will also sign a joint venture agreement with the NHPC this month-end for two other projects - Kiru of 600 MW and Karwa of 500 MW. The projects will be executed in the next four years, the sources said.

Power Minister Babu Singh said these projects would transform the economic landscape of the state.

Greater availability of power would lure industrial investment and provide many more employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Jammu and Kashmir, despite a generating potential of 14,000 MW of electricity, produces only 1,865 MW.

Most power projects in the state are far behind schedule. The Salal project had taken more than 28 years, Dul Hasti took 25 years and Baglihar is still nowhere near completion even after 11 years of work.

“It is for this reason that we are pooling our resources in generating power in the state,” said a PDC official, adding the entire cost would be over Rs.120 billion. The NHPC will have 51 percent stake and the PDC the rest.