Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 26: To meet the objective of State Hydel Policy 2011 providing for reservation of projects upto 10 MW for J&K residents, the proposal for relaxation of the pre-qualification criteria for 10 MW capacity projects, moved by Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation(JKSPDC), has been approved by the Chief Minister.
As per JKSPDC, with a view to encourage the participation of permanent residents of the State in development of hydroelectric projects and to realize the objectives of the State Hydel Policy 2011, the Chief Minister had directed JKSPDC to hold meetings with the representatives of Chamber(s) of Commerce and Industries and other stakeholders and get their inputs.
Accordingly, detailed interaction was held with the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Srinagar and Jammu, Federation Chamber of Industry Srinagar and Jammu, Self Help Group of Engineers & other stakeholders at Srinagar & Jammu.
Based on the feedback generated during these meetings, the Chief Minister approved relaxation of the pre-qualification criteria for projects upto 10 MW.
As per the modified criteria, the entrepreneurs can now hire technical experts to guide them in construction of these projects and simultaneously meet the technical criteria stipulated for these projects.
Since the State has enough engineers & other experts the entrepreneurs would find it easier to meet the technical criteria through their experience rather than having experience of construction of infrastructure, hydroelectric, river valley, power projects on their own.
This relaxation would also augment the efforts of the Government in providing employment opportunities to qualified engineers in the State, besides accelerating the pace of development of hydel generation.
The modified eligibility criteria would essentially be the financial eligibility in terms of Networth & Annual Turnover, which too has been reduced to Rs 0. 30 cr/MW & Rs 0.70 cr/MW, against the earlier stipulated Rs 0.50 cr/MW & Rs 1.20cr/MW, respectively. The bidder would also have to undertake to place in a position a strong technical team comprising of experts in Civil, Electrical & Mechanical Engineers etc as per the manpower plan approved by JKSPDC at the Techno Economic Clearance of the DPRs.
The relaxation in the criteria enabled removal of a major stumbling block experienced by the local residents while bidding for the projects already advertised by JKSPDC under the new Hydel Policy.
The Corporation is inviting bids for about 20 Projects each of capacity upto 10 MW reserved for locals and it is expected that with the relaxed eligibility criteria, the local entrepreneurs will participate in the bidding process in a big way.
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