No new project to NHPC till it agrees to work in JV: CM

The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said the government would not allot any new power projects to NHPC till the corporation is ready to work in a joint venture and return the projects after 30 years of their completion.
“We are hopeful of the return of power projects, but they (NHPC) repeatedly reject our demand. We now have a policy that we will not give any project to NHPC. If the NHPC creates hurdles, then we too will,” Omar told reporters here.
He said till the NHPC is ready to co-operate with the state, the government would not co-operate with them.
“From now on, if the NHPC wants to be a part of any project, then it will have to be a joint venture wherein the projects will be returned to the state after 30 years. If they are not ready to do that, then let the projects be where they are.
“When we have the money, we will build them ourselves, but NHPC will not be given any project – be that Dulhasti Phase Two, Uri Phase Two or any other project,” he said.
The Chief Minister said Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is the biggest fraud with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The resources here are first for the people of the state.
They are our right first. Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is the biggest fraud against the people of this state. They (BJP) should intimidate Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, where they have not been able to set right the river dispute.
“Punjab, under (former chief minister) Amrinder Singh, unilaterally cancelled their agreement. Then their intimidation did not work.
“Why are they trying to intimidate the state of Jammu and Kashmir only? The people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have first right over the resources here and then we will see about the others,” he said.
Reacting over BJP president Amit Shah’s statement that central funds were being misused in the state, the Chief Minister said, “the central government is with them, let them say where haven’t the funds been spent in proper manner”.