Rs 616-cr being spent on power augmentation in JK: Asiea Naqash

Jammu, Jan 17: Minister of State for Power, Asiea Naqash informed the House that the Union Government has launched a mega development programme under DDUGJY for the improvement of power system in the State involving a cost of Rs. 616.59 crore.
Responding to a question by Abdul Rahim Rather, she said this ambitious programme has been approved for implementation in 21 districts of the State including, 10 in Jammu province, 9 in Kashmir and two districts of Ladakh region.
Asiea Naqash said that the programme is aimed at to augment the power infrastructure and electrification of all un-electrified areas in the rural areas. It also envisages various reforms in the power sector to improve over all power scenario in the State.
Elaborating further, the Minister said that the reason for slow implementation is poor response to tenders and meeting various other technicalities. She said the Government is making constant efforts for speedy implementation of this important programme in all identified areas of the State to ensure that benefits reach to the targeted population.
Meanwhile, replying to a question by MLA Gulzar Ahmad Wani, she said Government is going to develop 1×10 MVA Receiving Station at Kawarigam to ease load and improve power supply scenario in adjoining areas. She said the power supply to Ranipora and Kawarigam is fed from Receiving Station, Gopalpora through 11 KV Dethoo feeder while Harde-toru is fed from Receiving Station, Shangus Nowgam through 11 KV Issus feeder.
“Kawarigam being the load centre, construction of 10 MVA, 33/11 KV receiving Station has been proposed there which will cater to the Hardetoru and Ranipora areas as well” she said.
The Minister said that the DPR for construction of Receiving Station at Kawarigam stands submitted for accord of TEC for an amount of Rs 4.99 crore which will improve the power supply to Ranipora, Hardo-Toru, Kawarigam and other areas of Shangus constituency.
The Minister further informed that the Receiving Station Cherpora 1×10 MVA was commissioned in April 2017 and has relieved some load of Receiving Station Nowgam Shangus. She said that upgrading of Receiving Station Nowgam Shangus from 16.3 to 2×10 MVA has been sanctioned under IPDS at an estimated cost of Rs.62.08 lakh. The tenders for IPDS/PMDP works including augmentation of Receiving Station, Shangus were floated on 18.10.2017.
Asiea Naqash further elaborated that Receiving Station Gopalpora is feeding Shangus constituency and parts of Anantnag town and some areas of Bijbehara also which has already been augmented from 1×6.3 MVA to 2×6.3 MVA and presently there is no proposal for its further augmentation as existing capacity is sufficient to cater to the present demand.
Meanwhile, replying to a question of Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the Minister said that the 1×10 MVA, 33/11 KV Receiving Station at Waterwani has been approved under PMDP (Rural) at an estimated cost of Rs.1.95 crore. She further informed that the villages of Sholipora, Waterwani/Bodina, Labartal villages of Budgam constituency are presently fed from Receiving Station Budgam which has recently been augmented from 24 MVA to 26.3 MVA.
The Minister also informed that the tenders for construction of Receiving Station at Waterwani along with other system strengthening works under DDUGJY were invited and subsequently cancelled.
“Re-tendering of the said works has not been undertaken till date owing to on-going litigation in High Court, Srinagar” she added.