Sets timeline for completion of Dul, Kawar, Keru projects
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 5: Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Development, Manohar Lal Khattar today said “India is free to utilise water of its rivers for the benefit of its people and Pakistan has no locus standi to interfere in it.”
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Talking to reporters at Pakal Dul in Kishtwar during his visit to the project site today, “the Union Minister said that the power projects are run by us on our own rivers and Pakistan is no body to rake up this issue under Indus Water Treaty (IWT) that stands scrapped by PM Narendra Modi after the neighbouring country’s continuous involvement in terrorism in J&K. He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi while scrapping the IWT last year has categorically stated that talks and terror can’t go together and India will strictly stick by its policy.
In response to a question that Pakistan is raking up the issue of construction of 1000 mw Power Project in Pakal Dul, the Minister said “This hardly matters for India as Pakistan has no locus standi in interfering in our projects. Pakistan has no role in it, We can utilise the water of our rivers for the benefit of our people and the Indus Water Treaty has been since scrapped by the Indian Government,” he added.
The Minister also issued directives to the officers and Engineers of all three projects which he visited during the second day of his two days tour of J&K today to complete them in stipulated timeframe. He fixed a deadline for completion of Pakal Dul an HEP of national importance and 624 MW Kiru HEP by December 2026 while deadline for completion of 540 MWs Kawar HEP was fixed as March 2028.
The Minister during his interaction with senior officers of NHPC, CVPPL and RHPCL stated that all the Hydro Power projects in J&K are very vital for the overall energy needs of the country and the UT of J&K and as such ensuring the timely completion of these Projects become of paramount importance.
The Union Minister as a part of his two-days visit to J&K to review the different Hydro Power Projects, visited Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar Hydroelectric Project sites in district Kishtwar today. During his visit, the Minister was accompanied by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary-Power, GoI, Bhupendra Gupta, CMD-NHPC Ltd., Sanjay Singh, Director-Projects (NHPC) Ltd, Ramesh Mukhiya, MD-CVPPL, U K Nand, ED-PMSG, NHPC Ltd, M K Kashyap, CEO-RHPCL, Deputy Commissioner-Kishtwar, SSP-Kishtwar, ACR-Kishtwar and the Heads of Projects of Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar HEPs.
Before proceeding to the project sites, the Minister was presented with guard of honour by CISF contingent at Dul Hasti Power Station Colony Complex at Kishtwar, which was followed by plantation of saplings by Minister and Union Power Secretary, in the Dul Hasti Bhawan compound.
On his arrival at Power House complex of 1000 MWs Pakal Dul HEP, the Minister was welcomed by Ramesh Mukhiya, MD-CVPPL. Thereafter, the visiting high-level delegation was briefed by Vishal Anand, Head of Project (HoP) about the progress and status of the ongoing Project works. While expressing satisfaction with the Project works, the Minister directed for timely completion of the project. The Minister complimented the officers and workers for the dedicated efforts and implored upon them to work with utmost dedication to realise the timely completion of the Project.
Enroute to 540MWs Kiru HEP, the Minister also reviewed the progress of the under construction Hydroelectric Project. S K Giri (HoP) briefed the Minister and the visiting delegation regarding the progress and status of the Project.
Thereafter, the Minister, along with the high-level delegation visited Kiru HEP and reviewed the progress of the Dam of the Project. Ramesh Ojha (HOP) briefed the Minister and the other members of the delegation regarding the current status of the Project. The Minister expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the Project and congratulated the entire Kiru HEP team and the workers for the tireless efforts for achieving the construction milestones, thus far. The Minister, urged the officers and workers of the Project to put in their dedicated efforts to ensure the commissioning by December, 2026.
During the visit, the Minister also interacted with Shagun Parihar, MLA-Kishtwar and local public representatives. The Minister while listening the problems of local people of the area sanctioned an auditorium for Nagsaini on the demand of MLA and locals.
Earlier during their meeting with Union Minister, LoP and MLA Padder Sunil Sharma and Shagun Parihar demanded that power project authorities be issued directives for development of Kishtwar towns and villages under CSR Scheme.
Later the Minister undertook aerial survey of the Dam of Pakal Dul HEP, before proceeding for return journey to Jammu.
At Jammu, the Union Minster held a meeting with top officials of NHPC, and CVPPL prior to his return to Union Capital. The BJP president and MP Sat Sharma and MLA Bahu, Vikram Randhawa also called on the Minister at Jammu Airport.
Manohar Lal, who began his two-day tour of the Union Territory yesterday by reviewing the progress of the 690-MW Salal Hydroelectric Project in Reasi district and directed NHPC to expedite the sediment removal operations of the Salal reservoir yesterday visited three more power projects in Kishtwar district today.
Salal Power Station, located on the Chenab River in Reasi district, is undertaking sediment removal works, following the termination of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) last year, to remove accumulated silt and maximise optimal utilisation of water resources.
He also visited the Ratle Hydroelectric Project on reaching Kishtwar, where he laid the foundation stone for dam concreting works and encouraged the project team to complete works in an effective and time-bound manner yesterday.
In a post on X in Hindi, Lal said he inspected the Pakal Dul Power Station on the second day of his Jammu and Kashmir tour.
“During the inspection, an in-depth observation and detailed review of the power station’s operational status, safety arrangements, production capacity, and technical activities was carried out in the company of senior officials.
“As one of the ambitious energy infrastructure projects in the region, the Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project will play an important role in the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir in the times to come,” the Minister said.
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