Jammu,March 29 (Scoop News) – Minister for Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora has said that construction work of Baglihar 450 MW, Rattle HEP 850 MW, Ranjala Dunadi 15 MW and Pakadul 1000 MW hydro power projects have been taken up under State, private sectors and joint venture basis on river Chenab falling under the jurisdiction of erstwhile Doda district. He said the government also plans to take up construction work of 9 more hydro power projects in erstwhile Doda district which includes Karthai-I 240 MW, Karthai-II 990 MW, Lower Kalnai 48MW, Sawalakote 1350 MW under state sector, Ans-I 40 MW, Bichlari 45 MW under private sector, Bursur 1020 MW under Central sector, Kiru 600 MW and Kawar 520 MW under joint venture.
This was stated by the Minister in reply to a question by Ashok Kumar in Legislative Assembly here today. He said under RGGVY 18 habitations of 7 un-electrified villages and 14 habitations of 8 partially electrified villages are to be electrified in Ramban district. He said there is no provision for providing employment to local skilled youth under RGGVY scheme, as the electrified villages and habitations are to be handed over to PDD department. He said under the programme free electricity service connections are to be provided to all BPL families and public institutions such as hospitals, dispensaries, panchayat Ghars and the schools in the habitations to be electrified under RGGVY.
In replying to another question by Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, the Minister said the government is formulating a project report for extension of R-APDRP to 288 towns and other areas on the lines of the same scheme approved for 30 towns of the State for reduction of T&D losses and improvement of sub transmission distribution system. He said DPRs after completion would be posed to Center for funding.
The Minister said that Administrative approval for construction of receiving station Chirpora, in Shangus constituency has been accorded at an estimated cost of Rs 2. 80 crore.
The Minister said that 73 transmission and distribution projects of 220 KV and 132 KV levels at an estimated cost of Rs 13.51 stands approved under PMRP. He said so far 43 projects have been completed and 25 projects of are likely to be completed next financial year. He said 4 projects OPGW stand assigned to PGCIL for execution on turnkey basis through transparent bidding process. He said one grid station, Siot is sub-ju dice. He said an amount of Rs 1031.43 crores have been expended on the execution of these projects till February 2012.
Replying to another question by Mohammad Irfan Shah, the Minister said that the areas of Lawaypora and Gund Hassi Bhat fall within the jurisdiction of electric sub division Narbal which is also a billing center. He said the proposal of delinking of these two areas from electric division Budgam to electric division –III Srinagar is not feasible. He said the sub division caters to mere 7600 electric consumers including consumers of Lawaypora and Gund Hassi Bhat and sub division Narbal is located at Narbal which is at short distance for above areas.
Legislators Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Waqar Rasool, Abdul Majeed Wani, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Mushtaq Ahmed Shah raised supplementaries to the main questions and pleaded for upgradation of power infrastructure in their constituencies.