PM dedicates J&K power project to nation

New Delhi: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, dedicated the 390-MW Dulhasti hydel power project in Jammu and Kashmir to the nation. Built on the River Chenab in the newly created Kishtwar district, the foundation stone for the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s project was laid 25 years ago.

When the foundation stone for the project was laid on April 19, 1983, its cost was estimated at Rs 183 crore, but was finally completed last year at an investment of Rs 5,228 crore.

Dr Singh said there is an urgent need for tapping hydro power potential in the Himalayan region, according to an NHPC release. He added that development of hydro power projects in the Chenab basin should be taken up at faster pace.

Advocating timely completion of all projects, the Prime Minister said, “Our several projects are not getting completed in time, which result in escalation of cost...if we continue with this, we cannot continue the economic progress.”

Observing that 90 per cent of the hydel power potential remained untapped, Dr Singh said industrial development required uninterrupted power supply.

The main components of the Dulhasti power station are a 65-metre high and 186 metre long concrete gravity dam across the River Chenab, a 10.5-km long Head Race Tunnel, an underground Power House with three generating units of 130 MW each, and a 7.46-m diameter and 307 metre long Tail Race Tunnel.

The annual electricity generation from the Power Station is 1,907 million units in a 90 per cent dependable year. The Power Station is providing peaking power to Northern Grid, with major beneficiary States being Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh.

The first unit of 130 MW was successfully synchronised on February 28, 2007, followed by the second unit on March 18, 2007, and the third on March 26 last year.