Actively pursuing transfer of hydel projects: Govt
Jammu: Minister of State for Power, Asiea Naqash informed the House that the government would actively pursue transfer of hydel projects from NHPC.
“As mentioned by the Finance Minister in the Power Budget speech in the year 2015-16 the government will actively pursue transfer of hydel projects from NHPC” she said adding that budget also provided funds for meeting the operation and maintenance cost of power projects to be taken over from NHPC.
Replying to a question, the Minister said that on March 16, 2015 the Deputy Chief Minister and the Finance Minister met the Union Power Minister formally and impressed upon the Union Government the need for transfer of power projects of Dul Hasti and Uri from NHPC to State among other important issues of power sector. Subsequently, the issues have been raised by Deputy Chief Minister in various Power Minister’s Conference.
Responding to another part of the question, Asiea Naqash said that CVPP has been entrusted to implement Pakal Dul HEP 1000 MW, Kiru HEP 624 MW and Kawar HEP 450 MW in Kishtwar. She said the investment approval for Pakal Dul has been received while it is yet to come for Kiru and Kwar HEPs. She further informed that in addition to the above, Dul Hasti Stage-II HEP has also been entrusted to CVPP and DPR preparation work of this project shall be taken up soon. She said that tendering is in progress for these projects and construction of major structures of the projects would be taken up thereafter.
The Minister also gave details of the present status of implementation of DDUGJY and the achievements made so far under the scheme.
The Minister said that Government of India has launched the DDUGJY scheme for completion of targets laid down under RGGVY for 12th and 13th Plans. She said RGGVY has been subsumed in DDUGJY for carrying forward the approved out lay for RGGVY to DDUGJY. She said that under the DDUGJY scheme an amount of Rs. 616.59 crore has been approved for 21 districts of the State including 10 districts of Jammu Province, nine districts of Kashmir Province and two districts of Ladakh region.
The Minister said that amongst the 21 districts sanctioned under DDUGJY, eight districts of Kulgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Leh, Kargil, Udhampur, Ramban and Reasi have been entrusted to PGCIL for execution and e-NIT has been floated. She said that the works for these eight districts will be allotted once agreement is signed between PGCIL and JKPDD. She further said that the tendering process for six district of Budgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Bandipora and Kupwara being implemented through Project Wing Kashmir was cancelled vide Order No. PDD-VII/Plan/minutes/404/2014-15/PF dated 31.08.2017, subsequent to which the works are under litigation in High Court Srinagar and due to which the department is unable to retender these works. As such till the outcome of litigation, the department is unable to retender these projects, she added.
About the status of DDUGJY works in Jammu Province, the Minister said that the tenders for Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Kishtwar and Rajouri were cancelled as per instructions conveyed vide Administration Department No. PDD-VII/Plan/minutes/404/2014-15/PF dated 31.08.2017 and in respect of Doda and Poonch as per Minutes of Meeting of Contract Committee-I held on 25th and 26 September 2017 and circulated vide Chief Engineer, Project Wing letter No. CE/PWJ/4699-4711 dated 28.09.2017.
She said fresh e-NIT for Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch stands uploaded whereas e-NIT for Doda and Kishtwar is under preparation with M/s WAPCOS PMA.
She further informed that the department has decided to take up the electrification of 54 un-electrified villages through off-grid connectivity, as per the decision of the State Level Standing Committee. “The matter has been taken up with Union Ministry of Power to electrify these villages through solar off grid mode. The on-grid electrification works of these villages will be carried on simultaneously, “she said.
Responding to a clubbed, the Minister said that households which were not covered under previous Rural Electrification Scheme have been included in DDUGJY and PMDP (Rural).
“Hamlets/habitations are continuously coming up in the various parts of the State due to development of the area and increase in population, which is an endless process. Accordingly, there is possibility that some of the households/hamlets/habitations recently inhabited may have not been covered in the said schemes,” she added.
KV Correspondent
