Construction of Kiru hydel power project to begin soon

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 11

Egged on by the Union Government, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited has shifted its focus on northern states, especially Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, to start construction of projects to give a push to rural growth.

Acknowledged as India’s premier hydropower company, it has gone on an overdrive to construct the Kiru hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir immediately after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the investment sanction for it. The Prime Minister had laid the foundation of the project in February. He is understood to have sounded an urgency regarding the project.

The project is envisaged as a ‘run of river’ scheme, with an installed capacity 624 MW. It will generate more than 2,272 MU in a 90 per cent dependable year.

Besides, the NHPC has started the process for the execution of the 850-MW Ratle hydroelectric project in the state which will be executed through a joint venture for which an MoU has been signed by it with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Department and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).

“Work will start shortly and the timeline for completion of the big-ticket project is four and a half years,” said National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) chairman Balraj Joshi regarding the Kiru project, adding it would provide much-needed power in the northern grid and accelerate the process of development of remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kiru project (624 MW) will be constructed by the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, a joint venture company among the NHPC, JKSPDC and NPTC with an equal shareholding of 49 per cent, 49 per cent and two per cent, respectively. Its estimated cost is more than Rs 4,287 crore.

Located on the Chenab in Kishtwar district, the project envisages construction of a 134-m high concrete gravity dam above the deepest foundation level.

A notable feature of the project is that the state has granted exemption to it on levy of toll tax and State Goods and Services Tax. J&K will have the first right of purchase on the power generated by it in the state.

State provides tax exemptions 

Located on the Chenab in Kishtwar district, the project envisages construction of a 134-m high concrete gravity dam above the deepest foundation level. A notable feature of the project is that the state has granted exemption to it on the levy of toll tax and State Goods and Services Tax.  J&K will have the first right of purchase on the power generated by it in the state.