GoI yet not conveyed formal refusal: DyCM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 11: Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh today claimed that Government of India has yet not formally refused return of power projects to the State.
“The transfer of power projects is an important part of the developmental agenda of the BJP-PDP Coalition Govern-ment”, he said in response to a question of PDF MLA Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen in the Legislative Assembly.
Claiming that State Government was actively pursuing the transfer of power projects with the Union Ministry of Power, Deputy Chief Minister said, “as per the minutes of meeting held under the chairmanship of Union Minister of State for Power on October 10, 2017 at SKICC Srinagar to review the power sector in Jammu and Kashmir, there is no mention about the refusal to hand over power projects to the State”.
Notwithstanding the claims of the Deputy Chief Minister, there is no progress on the vital issue although request about the transfer of Dul Hasti and Uri from NHPC to State Government was made to Union Government on numerous occasions since 2015.
In response to question of BJP MLA Jeewan Lal, the Deputy Chief Minister, who is also Minister Incharge Power, admitted that road-map has not been framed for effective utilization of Local Area Development Fund in respect of Sewa-II Project.
“NHPC has given 39.46 Million Units free power, which is having financial value of Rs 16.33 crore in respect of Sewa-II Power Station”, he said, adding “no work has been executed till date in the affected areas of Bani and Basohli tehsils as the Power Development Department is still in the process of framing a road-map for effective utilization of Local Area Development Fund”.
Under this fund, the Power Development Department has received 110.54 Million Units as free power of 1% from NHPC projects commissioned in J&K after 2008, the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding the total cost of this free power has been worked out at Rs 51.94 crore.

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