Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 1: Taking serious note of the pitiable condition of several small power projects and non-existence of proper distribution system in Ladakh region, the Committee on Public Undertakings has recommended that possibilities should be explored for transfer of power projects to the Hill Councils of Leh and Kargil for proper maintenance.
In its report tabled in the Legislative Assembly recently, the Committee on Public Undertakings said that Chutuk Power Project in Kargil district having capacity to generate 44 MWs electricity remains partially functional as no grid station/transmission line was constructed for the distribution purpose.
Similar is the fate of 45 MW Nemo Bazgo Project in the Leh district, which is only one in the Ladakh region that can otherwise function round the year. “The expenditure on this project has become an idle investment as unfortunately the Power Development Department has been lagging behind in raising the required infrastructure and network system”, the Committee observed.
“The Satakna/Igo power projects in Marcelloung area of Leh are of an old model. The Satakna project with 2×2 MW capacity was commissioned in 1996 to facilitate 4000 families but it never worked either due to absence of proper network or due to poor maintenance’, the Committee said, adding “the project needs immediate renovation failing which it would become totally defunct”.
According to the Committee, the Igo-Marcelloung power project with 2&1.5 MW generation capacity being a silt free project can serve round the year in case its infrastructure—receiving stations, grid stations and distribution network were constructed in time. “The present energy capacity from the project is one MW only and further requirement could be possible subject to the construction of proper network system”, the Committee added.
About the Hunder power project, the Committee said that the machines of the generation capacity of 2×0.20 MW are of old model and no spare parts would be available in case of any damage/repair work. ‘However, both the units are functional and catering to the demand of consumers turn by turn due to the non-existence of proper distribution system for both the units at one time”, the Committee added.
“The Sumoor power project is having old machinery which of an on develops the technical problems resulting into very meager generation capacity of 2×0.5 MW”, the Committee said, adding “the Sanjak power project has proved a complete failure due to fast flow of feeding nallahs which oftenly disrupt the water supply to the project resulting in power supply to a lesser number of households of Sanjak village against the estimated target of 4000 households thereby causing great inconvenience to the people”.
Marpachoo power project having capacity to generate 75 MW of power from its three units of 25 MW capacity was running on no loss no profit because capacity of project decreases due to the shortage of water during winter months, the Committee further said, adding “Iqbal Power Project of 3.75 KW capacity near the Kargil town has proven expensive one because of the silt problem and out of three units of the project only two are functioning at present to meet the demand of the area”.
Though the Committee on Public Undertakings has made project wise recommendations in order to improve their conditions yet it has laid emphasis on exploring of the possibilities for transfer of power projects to the Hill Development Councils for proper maintenance.
“A defective policy seems to have been adopted vis-à-vis power system in the region”, the Committee said in the report, adding “power projects have been constructed but the distribution network was nowhere resulting in the isolation of the projects and the idle investment of the State exchequer”.
Moreover, no proper and genuine staff has been provided for the maintenance of the power projects and entire staff was working on daily wage basis without having their wages paid for the months and years together, the Committee observed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel