Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 6: Making mockery of the plans to tap available power generation potential in Jammu and Kashmir in a time-bound manner, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has failed to obtain necessary clearances and complete vital studies for Bursar Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar district, which was allotted to it about one decade back. Moreover, the Corporation has sought further time-frame of three years for accomplishment of all the pre-requisites for start of work on the project.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Bursar Hydroelectric Project, which is proposed on Marusudar River, a tributary of Chenab River near village Pakal in Kishtwar district, was allotted to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation in the year 2004 and thereafter it was included in the list of Central Sector Projects by the Union Government.
However, right from the very beginning one after the other issue continued to create hurdles in the preliminary activities relating to the project. Initially, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had accorded scoping clearance for pre-construction activities and preparation of Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan reports for two alternatives of the proposed Bursar Hydroelectric Project.
Under first option, dam site at Pakal village was proposed and under second option, dam site at Hanzal was suggested. After investigations of the project, the second option-dam site at Hanzal was not considered keeping in view the shifting of families and other socio-economic aspects and geological conditions.
Now, NHPC has submitted a proposal to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest for extension of validity period of scoping clearance of Bursar project at Pakal site for 800 Mega Watt capacity for a period of three years.
“It has been submitted before the EAC that location of power house has been shifted from Drangdhuran to Lopara to maintain a minimum one kilometer distance between upstream and downstream projects and an additional dam-toe power house has been proposed to maintain e-flow norms of the Ministry due to which the installed capacity has been revised to 800 MW from original 1200 MW”, sources said.
They disclosed that the project parameters like dam height, design flood and live storage would remain unchanged except shifting of power house and providing dam-toe power house for maintaining environmental flow at the downstream.
Stating that process of obtaining clearances from relevant quarters and completion of other necessary formalities has not reached the logical conclusion despite the fact that 10 years have lapsed since the allotment of project to NHPC, sources informed that progress in respect of topographical and geological survey and drilling works is about 52%.
“Moreover, drifting works and construction material surveys are in progress and necessary activities inside Kishtwar High Altitude National Park whose 500 hectares area is coming under the project, would be undertaken after obtaining No Objection Certificate from National Board of Wildlife and Ministry of Environment and Forest”, sources said.
Even Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan studies are still under process and will take more time for completion. Keeping all these aspects in mind, the NHPC has sought three years extension for scoping clearance to complete the remaining activities which also include public hearing and appraisal before Union Ministry.
However, the Expert Appraisal Committee has recommended extension till October 5, 2016.
“Keeping in view the hurdles and subsequently soft paddling on the part of NHPC nobody knows when this project would see the light of the day”, sources regretted while dubbing the fate of Bursar Project as a blot on the strategy to tap available power potential in Jammu and Kashmir in a time bound manner.
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