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Cabinet Panel on Power Projects to Submit Report on January 5

  • The Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) on power projects, constituted by the Government to work out modalities for power-sharing and other related issues with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), is likely to submit its recommendation to the Government on January 5.Well informed sources told Greater Kashmir that the committee, headed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, has almost finalized its report. “Only a formal shape has to be given to the report”, sources said.Minister for Irrigation, PHE and Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, confirmed that the report is ready. “We will be submitting our recommendations to the Government on January 5”, Taj said, without divulging the details of the recommendations.
  • However, Finance Minister AR Rather said that the committee will hold another meeting on January 1 before the report is given the final shape. The committee was constituted by the State Cabinet to work out modalities for Uri-II, Dulhasti and 120 MW Sewa-II power projects. It is also empowered to recommend the modalities for enabling NHPC to obtain license under J&K Water Resources (Management and Regulation) Act, 2010, to run these power projects in the State.The committee, sources said, has examined various issues including the loss suffered by the State in last 15 years due to the use of its resources by the NHPC. “The committee members were unanimous that State shall either buy back the power projects from the Centre or claim compensation in lieu of the loss it has suffered”, sources claimed.
  • “The committee may also authorize the NHPC to control and run some power projects on execution, operation and maintenance basis,” sources said.The exploitation of State’s water resources by NHPC has already snowballed into a big political controversy with main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and civil society groups pressing for return of NHPC-run hydel projects to the state. These power projects raised under BOOT (Built, Own, Operate and Transfer) policy were supposed to be transferred to the State after the cost had been recovered by the operator.

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