Never to be finished!

The 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydropower Project reflects the callous approach of successive governments towards improving the power scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. No significant development has been made so far in executing the project. First announced in 1996, it continues to face delays and uncertainties for nearly three decades after its inception. According to experts, the project has significant potential to resolve the power crisis.

The power sector was not given due attention, which it required, for many decades. No serious efforts have been made to increase the local power generation to make the J&K self reliant. Subsequently, people continue to suffer due to scheduled and unscheduled power cuts during most months of the year, particularly in winter. Efforts were being, and are being, made to buy power from outside during the power shortage.

But this power purchased most of the time proves insufficient to meet the demand during the peak evening hours. Sometimes, there is delay in buying power, which plunges J&K into darkness. The authorities recently stated that power debits have been repaid. It is a good thing. Now it is being hoped that whenever there is a requirement of power purchase, it is done in time and without any delay.

The process for purchasing power for the coming winter months should be started early this year to avoid a power crisis during that period. At the same time, the focus should be on increasing local power generation. For that, the incomplete power projects have to be completed.

The New Ganderbal Hydropower Project must get special attention so that it is speedily executed to bring some improvement in the power sector. All the hurdles must be cleared. There should be no further delays in the completion of the project.

Three decades is a very long time to get a power project completed. Now there is a need to show seriousness so that the project gets completed at the earliest. All other incomplete projects too have to be speedily completed. J&K has a huge potential for hydropower generation.

This potential has to be identified and tapped. That can be a solution to the never ending power crisis. Otherwise, the consumers will continue to suffer because of the scheduled and unscheduled power cuts.