Srinagar
As the PM Modi has scheduled his visit to Jammu and Kashmir on February 3, 2019, the AIP president ER Rasheed said that his party will receive the PM with black flags in Srinagar as a mark of protest.
Rasheed in a statement issued to media has expressed deep concern over the proposed MOU to be signed between state government, Centre and NHPC for starting work on 850MW Retle power Project.
The spokesman quoting Er Rasheed said that while State Power Development Corporation is competent enough to construct Retle or any other Power Project, New Delhi seems to be adamant to “loot” our resources and is always utilizing services of NHPC like East India Company.
“While GVK had started the construction on Retle power project but after feeling that state power Development Corporation will not allow it to fulfil it, the company left the project half-way. While PDC had successfully commissioned 900MW phase-I and Phase-II thus making an annual turnover of more than 1500 Crores, it carries no justification to demoralize JK PDC and invite non-state companies, the spokesman quoted Rasheed as having said.
“It is learnt from reliable sources that on the directions of PMO and Ministry of Power Govt of India, the state government has prepared a draft to construct the Retle Project through joint investment between NHPC and JKPDC. While NHPC will be investing and owing 51% of the total project cost, JKPDC will get just 49% shares. As per the agreement, the project will be handed over to the state govt. after 25 years and for the first 10 years the state is going to get nothing out of the said project after being commissioned. Moreover one has a reason to question NHPC as the said company has failed to keep its previous agreements and has not returned the eight power projects which stand already completed and NHPC is denying the handing over of these power projects, thus NHPC has no moral authority to take over the construction of Retle project in hand, the spokesman quoted Er Rasheed as saying.
Rasheed added that while in the agenda of alliance between PDP and BJP state was supposed to get power projects back from NHPC, it is shameful that New Delhi is misusing governor’s office and position to “loot” the resources of the state and is eying on Sawalkote, Kirthai-I and Kirthai-II projects having a capacity of 3200 MW’s. He said that party will receive PM Modi with black flags in Srinagar on his upcoming visit to protest against the “colonial mindset of New Delhi and against looting resources of the state”.
