Impasse on getting back Uri, Salal power projects: Govt

‘JKPDC Authorized To Workout Modalities’
LA Proceedings
Jammu and Kashmir government is non-committal over buying back Uri and Salal power projects from National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), despite recommendations made by a Cabinet Sub-Committee in this regard.

The state government has been pursuing the matter since 2011 after it demanded return of power projects, built by NHPC in Jammu and Kashmir, on the basis of the agreement arrived with JK government.
Replying to a written question of Abdul Rehman Veeri of PDP, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the power portfolio, informed the Legislative Assembly Monday that the matter was under examination and was being “pursued with the concerned quarters”.
“On the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to look into how to get back Uri and Salal power projects, JKSPDC was authorized to workout the present cost of the project on the basis of internationally accepted norms prevailing in the sector, which could form the basis for further negotiations with government of India and NHPC,” he said.
Both union power ministry as well as NHPC has already rejected the state government’s plea to transfer the power projects to J&K.
However, the CM said; “The JKPDC has taken up the matter with the concerned quarters and are in process of finalizing the cost of the project”.
Pertinently, the Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, had submitted its repot to the state government a year back. It strongly recommended buying back two power projects – Uri and Salal – from NHPC.
However, subsequently the state government submitted the report to the Union Power Ministry, which refused to make any commitment and instead asked Jammu and Kashmir to take up the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office.
The committee had recommended buying back of 690 MW Salal and 480 MW Uri-I power projects at depreciated cost of Rs 2566 crore from NHPC.