The 800 Mega Watts Bursar Hydroelectric Project is planned to be constructed on Marusudar River, a tributary of River Chenab, in Kishtwar district. According to experts, the Bursar project will have larger water capacity than Dul Hasti, Baglihar and Salal projects. This hydroelectric power generating project fully meets the clauses of the Indus Water Treaty and on that count it is hassle free. It is worthwhile to mention here that only seven villages with 18 hamlets consisting of 1052 families are likely to be affected due to this project. Of these 1052 families, 336 would get affected fully and 716 partially and a provision of Rs 211 crore has been earmarked for Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) and Local Area Development, which would be more than sufficient as per the official reports.
This is a prestigious project in which the Centre and more particularly the PMO has evinced keen interest. Actually, the PMO has been monitoring the progress. The noticeable thing is that this project has managed to obtain environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in the shortest possible time. Moreover, the project is expected to get approval of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in near future because of its immense importance. Normally obtaining clearance from these agencies takes a long time but because of the persuasions of the PMO, things are moving at a fast speed. We wish that the same speed is maintainedin the completion of other mega schemes.
There are still many stages to be covered and as we know, the new concept of constructing a hydroelectric power generating station has many conditions to fulfil and many cares to be taken.The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had in one of its meetings decided to constitute a five-member Subcommittee to visit the site and submit a report in November. But the Sub-committee felt it was not feasible to make the visit in November and defer it till June 2018 which was almost seven months. The PMO was not in favour of delaying the job for such a long time and as such the Expert Appraisal Committee decided to recommend environmental clearance. This will reduce the expected delay of seven months.
The speed with which this project has obtained clearance from various departments is a lesson that given the dedication and deep interests in pushing the projects, it will not be difficult to complete the projects within time frame. This is the reverse of the position that exists today. We do not say that the formalities and no objections from various departments should be eschewed; we only say that the matters should be pursued with dedication and clearance obtained within shortest possible time. Bursar should set forth an example to be followed in the case of other mega projects that are or shall be in the pipeline.
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