Economy

Irrigation and Power

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.