Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 23: The stage is all set for the commissioning of 450 mw Stage IInd Baglihar Power Project and if all goes well the first unit of the project having the generation capacity of 150 mws will be commissioned by next month.
According to official sources the work is going on the project in full swing and at present the turbine testing is taking place. The Baglihar Power Project authorities have communicated the tentative date of September to the Government for commissioning of the first unit of the Project.
Sources said the Project is in final touch and the three units of the Stage II having a capacity of 150 mws each will be commissioned in three phases i.e September, October and November this year. With the commissioning of the project the State will tide over the power crisis to a great extent, the sources added.
Sources said the Project authorities have communicated the Government that unit fourth of the project will be commissioned by September this year which will be followed by commissioning of Unit 5th in October and Unit 6th in November this year.
Sources said Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh who holds the charge of Power Ministry soon after his taking over has stressed the authorities to ensure the timely commissioning of the project in view of the power crisis being faced by the people in the State.
The work on Rs 3000 crore Baglihar Stage IInd which is constructed on river Chenab was started in 2012 and the Project authorities had given 2015 the target date for its completion, sources said, adding if the water level does not recede in Chenab river all the three units of the project will be commissioned by the November this year. However the authorities were apprehensive that the water level may fall in the mighty Chenab after October as has been a normal case every year. This may create an impediment in the commissioning of all the three units by this year, sources said.
However, project engineers are trying best on their level that all the three units be commissioned by this year as has been communicated by them to Government, sources added.
When contacted, Chief Engineer Baglihar Power Project, Abdul Wahid told Excelsior that men and machinery is on the job and the turbine testing of the Project is being done at present. He said if all goes well the fourth Unit of the project will be commissioned by September this year. He said this will be followed by commissioning of the other two units of the project in October and November respectively provided availability of water in the dam.
He said with the commissioning of the project State will get extra power of 450 mws at least for seven -eight months and this will help in tiding over the power crisis especially in Summer to a great extent. The project has been completed within target period, he added.
It may be recalled that Baglihar Power Project Stage I which also generates 450 mws of power from its three units was commissioned in 2008 and later the work on Baglihar Stage IInd was taken up in hand by the Government in year 2012.
The two units of the project have one source i.e the Baglihar dam for supply of water with a capacity of generating 900 mws of power.
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