CVPPPL to execute 2 key power projects in JK
Firm to set-up 460-MW Dulhasti-II, 480-MW stage-II of Uri-I: Chairman MY Khan; Company to generate 3060-MW in next 7 years
The Union Power Ministry has given its go-ahead to the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL) for setting up two power projects—Dulhasti-II and stage second of Uri-I—with cumulative capacity of 940 MW, in Jammu and Kashmir.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a subsidiary of Government of India, was initially eyeing to execute these projects.
“We were able to persuade the Power Ministry to hand over Dulhasti-II and 2nd stage of Uri-I to the CVPPPL, much against the wishes of NHPC. It took us more than three years to get the consent from the Ministry,” Chairman, Director of Boards, CVPPPL, MY Khan told . “The projects will now be set up and owned by the company.”
Dulhasti-II is planned as 460-MW project, downstream 390-MW Dulhasti on Chenab basin in Kishtwar while 2nd stage of 480-MW Uri-I to be set up downstream Uri-I on River Jhelum in Baramulla district.
The CVPPPL, a joint venture between State’s Power Development Corporation (PDC), NHPC and Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC), has been established to tap 10,000 MW hydropower potential of Chenab basin in Jammu region.
The company is already working on three power projects–1000-MW PakalDul, 600-MW Kiru and 520-MW Kawar–on the basin.
Sources said while the NHPC had earlier staked claim to develop Dulhasti-II and stage 2nd of Uri-I and had also undertaken “preliminary work,” the stand of CVPPPL was supported by the State Government.
Following Power Ministry’s consent, the CVPPPL has hired consultants for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the two projects and is expecting to start work on them in 2016.
“Though the NHPC earlier resisted handing over of the (planned) projects, the central Power Ministry and State Government supported our cause,” said Khan.
“All five projects (PakalDul, Kiru, Kawar, Dulhasti-II and second stage of Uri-I) will be ready for commissioning in next six to seven years.”
As per the MoU between JKSPDC, NHPC and PTC- partners in CVPPPL– their shares shall be in ratio of 49:49:2 respectively in the company.
The handing over of these projects to CVPPPL would prove beneficial for J&K as it would be entitled to around 60 percent power (49 percent + 12 percent free power) from the projects against only 12 percent free power which it gets from NHPC-owned projects.
The NHPC is presently generating 2009 MW in J&K—highest in any state. The projects owned by the Corporation in J&K include Salal, Uri-I, Uri-II, Dulhasti, Sewa-II, NimooBazgo and Chutak.
“It (handing over of projects) is great achievement and would serve interests of the state in longer run,” said MY Khan.
J&K, which is struggling to generate enough power to meet local demand would be entitled to more than 1600-MW of total 3060-MW energy from five projects. Against the peak energy demand of around 2600-MW, J&K is generating 760-MW from 21 power projects owned by the PDC.
