The state government today approved the proposal of the Power Development Department (PDD) to implement the 93-MW New Ganderbal hydropower project on the banks of the Sindh in central Kashmir after nearly two decades of delay.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today approved the proposal of the PDD for the implementation of the power project following the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister on April 28.
The 93-MW project has been conceived as a run-of-the-river project on the Sindh, a tributary of the Jhelum. The Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted to determine the “reasonability of construction cost” of the project.
The committee had been asked to submit its report by May 10, 2017.
The Rs 811-crore New Ganderbal power project was conceived in the late 1980s and formally announced in 1996. It will have a surface desilting basin and comprises three units of 31 MW each.
The project is proposed to be funded with debt-equity ratio of 70:30 at an estimated completion cost of Rs 1264.83 crore. The run-of-the-river power project will be built in four years on the engineering procurement and construction mode.
The project will have a head race tunnel of 5.9 metres in diameter and 11.66-km-long horse-shoe shaped tunnel to carry water to the site..
The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation owns around 23 hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 1,211.96 MW, besides four independent power producers of 42.5 MW. Four projects are under implementation in the state sector with a capacity of 103.5 MW and three major projects with an expected generation capacity of 3,176 MW are in the pipeline, officials said.
Hygam tourism development authority sanctioned
The Cabinet today accorded sanction to the creation of Hygam-Ningli-Tarzoo (HNT) Tourism Development Authority under the administrative control of the Tourism Department comprising Tarzoo, Hygam, Rekh-e-Hygam, Panjipora, Ringi, Trumgund and Check-e-Hygam. The Cabinet sanctioned creation of 13 posts of various categories.
Ex gratia for Chamail Singh’s kin
The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 5-lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of Chamail Singh, who died in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore, Pakistan, on January 15, 2013. The Cabinet also approved compassionate appointment for a family member of Chamail Singh, who was a resident of Pragwal Mulo, Akhnoor in Jammu.
Cabinet approves 93 MW Ganderbal power project
