PM dedicates 390-MW J&K hydro project to nation

The PM inaugurated the project for which the foundation stone was laid 25 years ago by Mrs Indira Gandhi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dedicated a 390 MW hydro electric power project built on river Chenab in the newly created Kishtwar district of Jammu to the nation.

Singh, who inaugurated the project for which the foundation stone was laid 25 years ago by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, described it as another milestone in tapping the vast hydro power potential in Jammu and Kashmir.

About 20,000 MW of hydro-power potential has been identified in the country’s northern most state and nearly 23 minor and major hydro projects are in the pipeline.

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Singh also laid the foundation stone of a mini secretariat of Kishtwar through remote control at a function the Kishtwar town Chowgan Maidan.

This is the second power project on river Chenab after the 360-MW Salal project, which was commissioned in 1994.

Two more hydel power projects – 450 MW Baglihar hydel project and 600 MW Sawalakot hydel project in Ramban district are under construction on the river.

Describing the project built in the Pir Panjal ranges of Himalayas as an engineering marvel, NHPC (Dulhasti project) General Manager Roopak Jain said that three turbines of 130 MW each started commercial generation from March 31, 2007 and has already surpassed generation targets.

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The first unit of 130 MW was successfully synchronised on February 28, 2007, followed by the second unit on March 18, 2007 and the third on March 26 last year, Jain said.

“It is the most successful unit. Against a target of 1,907 mega units of power generation, it generated 2,207 MUS between March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008… creating a record 116 per cent achievement,” he said.

The NHPC has set up a 65-meter high, 186-meter long concrete gravity dam with 7.46-meter and 7.7-meter diameter 10.59 km long head.

Besides, the race tunnel has a diameter of 7.46-meter with 298-meter long tail race tunnel and an underground power house that can withstand earthquakes measuring up to 10 on the Richter scale, he said.

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But the project was marred by delays and cost escalation during the last 25 years. When former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the project at Dul village on April 19, 1983, the project cost was estimated at Rs 183 crores.

However, till now, Rs 5,228 crore has been spent on the project. The project was undertaken in collaboration with five French partners.

Work on the project was stopped for over five years from 1991 after a French engineer engaged for the project was abducted from Doda.

The engineer was later released. The work began in 1996 and more funds pumped to complete the mega project.

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