26 such HEPs in country: Union Minister
2 await Forest Clearance, one both Forest & Environ
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 9: The work has yet not been started on four hydroelectric projects (having capacity to generate 3119 Mega Watt of electricity) in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir even several years after being concurred by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) mainly for want of Forest and Environmental Clearances from the concerned agencies.
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As per the official information available with EXCELSIOR, Kirthai-II Hydroelectric Project, which is to be executed in Joint Venture mode by the Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) and will generate 930 Mega Watt of electricity, was concurred by the Central Electricity Authority on June 14, 2019. However, till date CVVPPL has not obtained Forest Clearance-I and Forest Clearance-II.
Likewise, Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project to be executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for generation of 1856 Mega Watt of electricity, was concurred by Central Electricity Authority on April 18, 2018 but both the Forest Clearances are yet to be obtained without which work cannot be started.
On February 16, 2023, the Central Electricity Authority also concurred 240 Mega Watt Uri-I Stage-II Hydroelectric Project to be developed by NHPC but till date neither Environmental Clearance nor Forest Clearance has been obtained by the concerned authorities.
Similarly, on June 10, 2014, 93 Mega Watt New Ganderbal Project was concurred by the CEA and the project, which is to be executed by J&K Power Development Corporation, yet to see start of work on it as the award of contract packages is still under progress.
“These four are among a total of 26 Hydroelectric Projects with aggregate installed capacity of 19,214 MW in the country which have been concurred by CEA but yet to be taken up for construction”, said Minister of State in the Ministry of Power Shripad Naik in response to a question regarding approved but pending power projects in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister said, “as per Section 8 (1) of the Electricity Act, 2003, any generating company intending to set up a hydro generating station, is supposed to prepare and submit to the Central Electricity Authority for its concurrence, a scheme estimated to involve a capital expenditure exceeding such sum, as may be fixed by the Central Government from time to time by notification (presently Rs 1000 crore).
The Kirthai HEP Stage-II has been contemplated as a run of the river scheme on the Chenab in Kishtwar district. It envisages utilization of river water for generation of annual energy of 3159.72 MU at 90% dependability through an underground powerhouse (6X140MW) to be located on the left bank of the Chenab near Lidrara Nallah and a dam toe power house for generation of annual energy of 307.19 MU, thereby resulting into an annual generation of 3466.19 MU.
Similarly, Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project in Ramban envisages construction of a 193 m high concrete gravity roller compacted dam across river Chenab to generate 1856 MW of hydropower. This is a run-of-the-river scheme and will be developed into two stages. The first stage would be an aggregate capacity of 1406 MW (6 units of 225 MW each + 56 MW). The second stage of the project is envisaged for an installation capacity of 450 MW.
The Uri-I Stage-II HE Project (240 MW) will be executed on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis for a period of 40 years on the River Jhelum in Uri tehsil of Baramulla district. The project will use the existing structure of Uri-I Barrage for off-take of water required for hydropower generation by constructing additional HRT, Power House & TRT.
The Uri-I Stage-II HEP is the extension of Uri-I HEP (480MW). Stage-I of Uri Project is a run-of-the river scheme, which was commissioned in 1997 by NHPC and has been operating successfully since then. Uri-I, Stage-II HEP has been planned as per the provision kept in the DPR of Uri-I HE Project.
The New Ganderbal Hydropower Project designed as a run-of-the-river system on the Sindh Nallah will have three units of 31 MW each.
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