Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 26: In a major step forward towards start of work on Sawlakote power project over river Chenab at village Ghalot between Udhampur and Reasi districts, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two international companies for construction of a tunnel and steel bridge to prepare access road up to the project.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the State Government has signed two separate MoUs with Hindustan Construction Company worth Rs 167 crores and M/s SP Singla Constructions Limited to the tune of Rs 48 crores for construction of tunnel and steel bridge to create access road right up to the project to give access to men and machinery for starting work on it.
The Hindustan Construction Company has been awarded Rs 167 crores worth contract for construction of 1.5 kilometers long tunnel leading to the project while M/s SP Singla Constructions Limited would construct a steel bridge across river Chenab before the tunnel.
“Both the companies have been issued Letters of Intent after signing of agreement between them and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) on behalf of the State Government,’’ sources said, adding that both the companies have been asked to start the work immediately.
The tunnel and steel bridge would be constructed at the combined cost of Rs 215 crores for which the contracts have been awarded.
The construction of 1.5 kilometers long tunnel and steel bridge were part of the access road to Sawlakote project, which had been hanging fire ever since it was conceived in 2001.
Pointing out that consecutive State Governments continued to harp on taking steps for construction of Sawlakote project, sources said no initiative was taken by the previous Government to first construct access road, which was necessary for taking sophisticated and modernized machinery right up to Chenab river and its banks for starting the construction work.
However, presently, the State Government during review of current status of the project found that there was no road to transport machinery to the project, which has to be constructed by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. The Government then decided to first construct the tunnel and the road before going in for the project.
The 1856 Mega Watt Sawlakote Project is being constructed between Baglihar and Salal dam over the river Chenab.
Presently, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Sawlakote is lying with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), sources said.
Admitting that Sawlakote power project has been delayed for years together, sources admitted that the previous Governments only talked about construction of the project but didn’t initiate concrete steps for its construction like laying the access road without which there was no way to take machinery up to the project site for conducting construction work.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Incharge Power Development Department, said his Department took thorough review of the construction of Sawlakote project with the experts and came to the conclusion that only when access road to the project site is completed that the work can formally start on the project.
“In view of this, we decided to first complete work on access road with the construction of tunnel and steel bridge without which the road wouldn’t have been possible,’’ Dr Singh said, adding that both the companies—Hindustan Construction Company and M/s Singla Constructions have been asked to start work on tunnel and steel bridge immediately so that the Government could go ahead with the Sawlakote project.
Dr Singh said the Government has taken a step forward towards construction of Sawlakote project, which was hanging fire for several years. However, when constructed, the project will go a long way in overcoming power shortage in the State, he added.
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