3540 MW hydro power harnessed in J&K till date: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 21: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has stated that the estimated hydro power potential of the Union Territory of J&K is 18000 MegaWatt (MW), out of which 14867 MW has been identified and 3540.15 MW has been harnessed till date.

Identified potential of 14867 MW comprises 11283 MW in Chenab basin, 3084 MW in Jhelum basin and 500 MW in Ravi basin. “Out of the identified potential, 3540.15 MW i.e., 23.81 percent (of identified potential) has been harnessed till date. This comprises 1197.4 MW in the UT sector (JKSPDC), 2250 MW in the Central sector (NHPC) and 92.75 MW in the IPP sector (private),” the Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Power Development Department (PDD) has informed.

The information has been revealed in response to the issue raised by BJP MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta, related to the plans to fully harness the hydel generating potential of running rivers of J&K. “The UT of J&K has taken effective steps for fast tracking the harnessing of balance hydro-power potential by involving NHPC, Joint Venture (JV) Companies (a 51:49 JV between NHPC and JKSPDC) namely CVPPL and RHPCL and independent power producers apart from Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) in the development of hydro-electric projects,” the Chief Minister said, while sharing the plan to harness hydel potential of running rivers of J&K.

Notably JKSPDC, a fully owned generation company (Public Sector Undertaking) of J&K Government, presently operates 13 hydroelectric projects (HEPs) with an aggregate installed capacity of over 1197.4 MW across J&K, including the 900 MW Baglihar HEP.  The Corporation is presently executing 37.5 MW Parnai HEP and 12 MW Karnah HEP in Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) mode and in JV mode with NHPC. It is presently constructing 4 projects with a total installed capacity of 3014 MW.

He has informed that 15 projects aggregating 7768 MW are at various stages of implementation. “Six projects aggregating 3063.5 MW are in the construction stage; two projects aggregating 141 MW are at award stage and seven projects aggregating 4563.5 MW are at DPR and clearance stage,” he said.

Six under-construction projects include Pakal Dul; Kiru; Kwar; Ratle; Parnai and Karnah HEPs.New Ganderbal and Lower Kalnai HEPs are at award stage while Sawalkote; Kirthai-II; Dulhasti II; Uri I phase II; Kirthai-I; Bursar and Ujh Multipurpose at DPR and clearance stage.

The Chief Minister stated, “The losses due to decrease in generation have occurred as a result of decrease in hydrology due to climate change over a period of time apart from the fact that many of the projects like 23.3 MW Chenani-I; 105 MW LJHEP; 22.6 MW USHP-I etc., have already outlived their design life of 35 years resulting in frequent forced shutdowns and progressively increasing operation and maintenance costs.”