PM Modi inaugurates 300 MW Kishanganga Hyderoelectric Project

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and laid the foundation stone of the Pakal Dul Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir on May 19, 2018. Pakal Dul, with 1,000 MW capacity, will be the largest Hydro Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir on completion. It is also the first storage project in Jammu & Kashmir.

The 330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project, located in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), is a run of river scheme. The annual generation of the main project is 1712.96 MU. The project has been proposed to be completed at a cost of Rs 5,882 crore.

Kishangana Hydroelectric Project will provide a free power of 13 per cent 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 1,850 local persons during 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, Government of India in July 2000.

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. Around 3,000 persons shall be employed directly/ indirectly during construction phase of the project. Further, around 500 persons shall be employed directly/indirectly during operation phase of the project, according to a PIB release.

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 1 per cent free power will go towards Local Area Development Fund (LADF). The J&K government has first right to purchase balance power of NHPC (49%) & PTC (2%). The  local population will be benefitted by the improvement and widening of roads and improvement of bridges under the project.

R K Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, was also present at the occasion.