SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated NHPC owned Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and laid the foundation stone of the Pakul Dul Power Project.
The 1000-MW Pakal Dul is one of the three projects which are implemented by the Joint Venture of the NHPC and the SPDC. It is called Chenab Valley Power Projects. Pakal Dul is the first storage Project in J&K, an official spokesman said.
The 330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project, located in Bandipora district is a run of river scheme. All units of the project have been sychronised on March 30, 2018, and the annual generation of the main project is 1712.96 MU. The Project has been proposed to be completed at a cost of Rs 5882 crore.
Kishangana will provide a free power of 13 percent to the state, which will be around Rs 133 crore per year. There are other benefits to the state like employment to the people of J&K, infrastructure development etc. It is estimated that the project engaged about 1850 local persons during the construction stage and 750 local persons during operation stage through direct and indirect employment. The Project was handed over to NHPC for execution by the State Government after an MoU was signed between J&K Government and Ministry of Power, Govt of India in July 2000 when Dr Farooq Abdullah was ruling the state.
The project cost of Pakal Dul as per CCEA sanction is Rs 8112.12 crore and it is supported by the Government of India as well as the Government of J&K. Timelines of implementation is 66 months from the start of the Project. It shall be leading to additional Generation of 650 MU in downstream projects as it is a storage type project and shall improve the water availability during the lean season.
Pakal Dul project will have immense benefits for J&K, according to the spokesman of the central government. Around 3000 persons shall be employed directly / indirectly during the construction phase of the project. Further, around 500 persons shall be employed directly / indirectly during the operation phase of the Project. It has been agreed that the government of J&K shall be getting 12 per cent free power after 10 years of commissioning of the Project and water usage charges as applicable. Additional one per cent free power will go towards Local Area Development Fund (LADF).
Government of J&K has first right to purchase balance power of NHPC (49%) and PTC (2%). Furthermore, local population will be benefitted by the improvement and widening of roads and improvement of bridges under the Project.
