IRRIGATION
AND POWER
The
state has an identified hydro potential of over 15,000 MWs (out of while
hardly 10 percent has been harnessed till date). A major
portion of this hydro potential, about 6,000 MWs is on the Chenab river which is
veritable goldmine for the state. Kashmir province has an identified potential of
about 2,000 MWs , out of which about 35 percent has been utilised so far. The
Eighth Five year plan outlay for power sector stands at Rs.1175.48 crores. The
installed power capacity by the end of March 1995 was 387.30 MWs with another
3.65 MWs added in 1995-96.
A provision for Rs.205.52 crores stands earmarked for irrigation and flood
control including command area development programme of the state during the
Eighth Five year plan. The area irrigated was 4.42 lakh hectares by 1994-95 end.
With a view to tapping the available hydel potential, the state government is
exploring the possibility of attracting private, both local and foreign,
capital/assistance for taking up major hydel projects in the state. Upper Sindh
hydel project is a major priority and it was commissioned by December 1998. The
Salal hydel project with a capacity of about 345 MWs in the central sector is
already in operation as is the Uri hydel project which accounts for 480 MWs of
power. Another project is the Dulhasti project, accounting for 390 MWs.
During the current year power is available from Pahalgam hydel project (3 MW),
Machhil hydel project (0.7 MW), Iqbal hydel project (1.25 MW), Huftal hydel
project (1 MW) and Chenani-II / Seva-III (9 MW).
During 1997-98, Zainakote grid station, 120 MVA stations at
Kathua, Akhnoor,
Rajouri and Ranbir Singh Pura were completed.
Another important project is the 450-MW Baglihar project on the
Jammu-Srinagar
national highway. This project can annually generate a total of 2,600 million
units of energy.
Next project is the Kishenganga project in the Gurez valley. The annual
generation from the project is 1,460 MWs.
The state has in the pipeline ten more attractive investigated projects which
are : Uri (280 MW), Sewa-II (120 MW), Sawalkote (600 MW), Pakaldul (1,000 MW),
Burser (1,020 MW), Parkhachak (60 MW), Ratle (170 MW), Naunatoo (400 MW), and
Kirthai (750 MW) for implementation, with private investment, during the next
fifteen to twenty years.
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