The Minister for Power and Industries, Nawang Rigzin Jora, has reviewed the functioning of hydro power projects under execution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, at a high level officers meeting.
The meeting discussed the progress of work on phase one of the 450MW Baglihar hydro power project which is expected to be completed by 2007. The matter of the 1200MW Sawalkote project and other mini hydroelectric projects were also discussed.
Also revealed was that work on an 18.5km access road for the Sawalkote project is in progress, after approval by the cabinet. It was further made known that a trial run of a 3MW capacity mini hydro project at Leh has been carried out successfully and similar trail runs have taken place on the 1MW Haftal and 0.7MW Marpachoo projects in Kargil.
Further topics raised included the case of 11 mini hydro projects being allotted to the Independent Power Producers (IPP) and 19 more projects that are under allotment to these entrepreneurs. In addition, the meeting saw that bids have been received from entrepreneurs on the new Ganderbal (93MW), lower Kalnai (50MW), Kirthai (40MW) and Parnai (37.5MW) hydro projects in Poonch, which are being evaluated.