PM to inaugurate Baglihar-II in Oct, Centre to help in power reforms

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 1: BJP president Amit Shah today reviewed working of six months of first ever PDP-BJP coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir even as Union Power Minister Piyush Goel assured the State Government that power sector will form major component of the special package being prepared for the State and the Union Power Ministry will extend all assistance in tapping hydel power potential in the State.
Piyush Goel announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir to inaugurate 450 MW Baglihar Power Project Phase-II in first or second week of October, depending upon the convenient dates, to dedicate project to the nation, official sources told the Excelsior.
The PDP-BJP coalition Government headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed completed six months today.
Amit Shah reviewed political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in an hour long meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh in New Delhi this afternoon. Singh gave detailed briefing to Shah on security situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir including on the borders and hinterland, infiltration attempts being made by the militants, successful completion of Lord Amarnath ji pilgrimage, condition of all refugees putting up in the State, coordination between the two coalition partners, welfare measures taken by the State Government for the people including job opportunities and other significant decisions.
Sources said Amit Shah stressed for effective coordination between the PDP and BJP Ministers and leaders, regular holding of PDP-BJP Coordination Committee meeting, keeping law and order and militancy situation under control and taking all steps to protect the people living on the borders from Pakistani shelling and firing. He said the Centre Government was taking lot of steps for welfare of the border people, which will be unveiled soon.
The BJP president said the party Ministers should start delivering now effectively as six months of the Government have passed and must show the quick results. He reportedly told the Deputy Chief Minister that he would hold another review of the working of PDP-BJP Government working after the Bihar elections.
Sources said Union Power Minister Piyush Goel in his meeting with Dr Nirmal Singh after State Power Ministers’ conference in the Union capital this morning told him that power sector will form major component in the special package being worked out by the Centre Government for Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Singh holds the charge of Power and Housing and Urban Development Departments.
“We are laying major thrust on the power sector in Jammu and Kashmir. We will give all assistance to the State in tapping hydel power potential of the State and modernize the power infrastructure. The laying of more transmission lines, covering uncovered areas and providing electricity to uncovered villages would be the priorities,” Goel told Dr Singh after the meeting.
The Union Power Minister noted with satisfaction that the J&K Government has reduced Transmission & Distribution (T&D) losses by 5 per cent within first six months of the Government and brought the T&D losses below 60 per cent for the first time in past several years.
In his address at the Power Ministers’ conference, Dr Nirmal Singh voiced concern over delay in clearance required for hydro projected.
“On June 15 this year, it had been decided that the Central Water Commission would complete the DPR of 990 MW Kirthai-II project by September 2015 and submit it to the JKSPDC. Similarly, the appraisal of 1856 Sawalkote hydro-electric power project by CEA must be completed in time bound manner,” he said and called for single window clearance at the Central level. He asserted that Hydro Power Projects Monitoring should be one of the terms of reference of the high level group proposed for expeditious development of hydro power sector.
Dr Singh said since the hydropower projects are often located in hilly and difficult terrain areas with poor physical connectivity, the Centre should develop roads along with existing projects for benefit of the people.
“As per assessment of the CEA, India has hydropower potential of about 84,000 MW at 60 per cent load factor. J&K has hydropower potential of 20,000 MW, out of which only 15 per cent has been tapped so far. A mission mode approach is required for expeditious tapping of this potential,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

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