J&K is set to get reprieve from power woes with the inauguration of 450 MW stage-II of Baglihar hydropower project by Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month.
The project would not only give a fillip to State’s energy sector but also “cement its position” in the energy market, officials said.
The Prime Minister would inaugurate the project on November 7 which would be followed by signing of MoU between J&K’s Power Development Corporation (PDC) and Rural Electrification Corporation’s Central Institute for Rural Electrification for setting up of an institute in Ramban district to provide training for running hydropower projects.
An official said all the three units of Baglihar-II with 150-MW capacity each were run successfully on trial basis by the PDC, which owns the project, on September 27.
With the commissioning of the Baglihar-II, the State’s revenue generation from the hydropower projects would increase by Rs 3.5 crore per day.
Both stages of Baglihar I and II would be generating energy worth Rs 7 crore per day during the peak season of five months annually when the discharge in the rivers remains maximum. In the remaining months (lean period), the official said, the energy generation on an average from both the projects would be equal to Rs 3 crore per day.
The Baglihar-I that was commissioned in 2008 is already generating 450-MW energy.
“The commissioning of the Baglihar-II will give a new identity to J&K. It is an achievement of immense pride and joy,” said a PDC official.
The official said the “success story” of Baglihar I and II would help the Government to raise finances from the market to give a push to the energy sector in the State.
“Financial institutions and companies are already queuing up for investment in J&K energy sector. The Baglihar feat will cement our position in the power sector,” said the official.
The Baglihar-II that has come up at the cost of Rs 3113 crore would increase J&K’s generation capacity to over 1211-MW. It is the second major project owned by PDC after Baglihar-I. The Corporation at present owns 22 power projects and is working on some other projects of small to major capacities. Construction of 450-MW Baglihar-I cost state over Rs 5500 crore.
“Completion of the project (Baglihar-II) in scheduled time is indeed a remarkable achievement by the PDC and it has proved that if given an opportunity, the Corporation has capability to deliver on peoples’ agenda and harness power potential to generate resources for the state,” said ShakeelQalander, member of civil society formation, Kashmir Center for Scientific and Developmental Studies.
The work on Baglihar-II was started in 2011.
The official said a part of revenue generated from Baglihar-II project like in case of Baglihar-I would go for debt clearance.
The project is also a run-of-river scheme like Baglihar-I, built on River Chenab in Ramban district.
J&K with a hydropower potential of 20000-MW is importing more than 70 percent of electricity from northern grid to meet local demand of around 2600 MW.
