SRINAGAR: Hydroelectric power projects operating in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district have spent more than Rs 2,400 lakh under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives over the past five financial years, with education, healthcare, rural development and sanitation emerging as the main focus areas, according to the Ministry of Power.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said the projects collectively allocated or sanctioned over Rs 2,400 lakh for CSR activities between 2021-22 and 2025-26. However, the ministry also said that no independent social audit of these CSR projects has been carried out.
Among the projects, NHPC’s Dulhasti Hydroelectric Project accounted for the largest CSR expenditure at Rs 2,046.82 lakh during the five-year period. Ratle Hydroelectric Project spent Rs 123.30 lakh, while the Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects together spent around Rs 161 lakh on CSR initiatives.
According to the ministry, beneficiaries of CSR schemes are selected on the basis of the objectives of individual projects and the needs of local communities in the project area.
The ministry said Dulhasti’s CSR initiatives included expenditure on schools, repair of educational infrastructure, healthcare services, an ambulance, support for NHPC hospitals and dispensaries, construction of approach roads, hostel facilities, yatri infrastructure and sanitation projects. A major share of its CSR spending went towards educational institutions and schools.
The Ratle project supported medical camps, medicines, an ambulance for Block Medical Office Drabshalla, scholarships, educational kits, renovation of schools, sports activities, solar lighting, road construction, environmental initiatives and cultural events in the project area.
CSR activities undertaken by the Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects included water storage and purification facilities in schools, renovation of toilets, medical camps, strengthening of primary healthcare centres, drinking water facilities, radiography equipment for District Hospital Kishtwar and support for health awareness campaigns in project-affected villages.
The information was provided in response to a question seeking project-wise CSR allocations, expenditure, beneficiary selection mechanisms and details of any independent social audit of hydropower projects in Kishtwar district.
