J-K govt plans to implement 45 hydro power projects in 10 yrs

Dhar said 41 projects having a capacity of generating 3,231.85 MW will be completed during the 12th Plan period ending March 2017 and by the end of the 13th Five-year Plan in March 2022,the total harnessing capacity will reach 8,298.85 MW.

He said four major projects which include Sawlakot and Kirthai will be completed during the 13th five-year plan and will have a capacity of nearly 5,000 MW.

Jammu and Kashmir has a hydro power potential of 25,000 MWs,of which less than 10 per cent is being harnessed,he said.

He said work was in progress on 14 projects in various stages,while work was being done for implementation of the rest of the projects.

Dhar said the hydro power sector has a capacity to generate 36,000 jobs for local youth.

He said a national level hydro power training institute is also in the pipeline,to be established at Ganderbal in central Kashmir,where youth will get specialised training to work in the hydro power sector.

Dhar said the bidding for the projects to be constructed over the next ten years was open to both national and international companies.

“We are in a set up now,where all biddings are in a global competition. So anyone from anywhere can come and bid,” he said.

Indra Mohan,the president of India Tech Foundation which is organising the two day conference,said there is a “need to harness the rest of potential as soon as possible”.

“Meeting the requirement of electricity is very important,” he said,adding that the objective of the convention is to focus on harnessing opportunities in the state’s power sector.

Jammu and Kashmir chief Minister Omar Abdullah will tomorrow inaugurate the Convention at SKICC here tomorrow.

Pakistan was also invited for the convention,but they did not reply,Mohan said.