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No progress on return of power
projects, boost to energy sector in past 10 months
The ‘U-turns’ by the Bharatiya Janata
Party-led government in New Delhi in the past 10 months on supporting the
Sate’s plans to explore the potential in energy sector have come under focus as
the Peoples Democratic Party readies to form the government formation in Jammu
and Kashmir. From last minute ‘trimming’ of the Prime Minister’s ‘development
package’ to New Delhi’s refusal to approve a share in profits of the National
Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the State faced several setbacks
despite an agreement between PDP and BJP on plans to develop J&K’s energy
sector.
In the “Agenda of Alliance”, the
coalition partners had agreed that for addressing the “real source of J&K’s
fiscal problem” and paving way for making J&K a fiscally-autonomous state,
the State Government would work with New Delhi to explore modalities for transfer
of Dulhasti and Uri hydropower projects to J&K. However the State had to
bear with last minute trimming of Rs 5000 crore assistance that had been
approved by the PMO for the state for buying back two power projects from the
NHPC. Besides, another Rs 23000 crore that was due to the state under the
Prime Minister’s package for harnessing power potential and developing
hydropower projects and augmenting state’s power infrastructure was allegedly
unilaterally cut by New Delhi.
“We had got assurance from state
Government that it will get back the power projects from the NHPC. But we were
left disappointed at the last minute despite the fact that the buying back of
projects was part of the Agenda of Alliance between PDP and BJP,” said
ShakeelQalander, member of a civil society formation in Kashmir which has been
at the forefront of the demand for return of power projects to the state from
NHPC.
Sources said former Finance
Minister DrHaseebDrabu, who had held negotiations with Government of India on
developmental package, had got “commitment” from both Union Finance Ministry
and the PMO on assistance for the state’s power sector. However against the
expected Rs 1.8 lakh crore the Prime Minister NarendraModi, on November 7 last
year, announced only Rs 80000 crore. There was no word from the New Delhi on
the trimming.
The civil society has been
reiterating that harnessing state’s vast hydropower potential was the only way
to generate resources needed for realizing development plans and combating
growing unemployment, apart from mitigating the power woes.
“However the desired objectives in
the power sector have come to a grinding halt owing to non-cooperation from
Government of India and unwillingness of the state government to pursue the
matter,” said Qalander.
In June last year, the Union
Minister for Power PiyushGoyal had out-rightly rejected any proposal to return
NHPC-owned power projects to the state and ruled out revision of royalty
agreements between State and NHPC on Corporation-owned projects.
“The message from New Delhi is
clear that they don’t want sustainable development of Jammu and Kashmir as
power sector holds key to development and resource generation. The onus lies on
the state’s political parties now,” said a senior state government official.
The move by New Delhi was also
seen as a “major blow” to long term plans for reviving state economy by
addressing the growing power demands on one hand and augmenting state’s
budgetary health on the other, in the longer terms.
Despite having a potential of
around 20000 MW, the state is struggling to meet the local power demands, which
have grown beyond 26000 MW. The inadequate power has been forcing the
government to import energy from outside which is a major source of drainage to
state economy.
“During the 2014 election campaign,
apart from other issues, the PDP had also based its campaign on the assurance
to get back the power projects from the NHPC. Today people are disappointed
with the government, as the dreams for development have not materialized. This
is challenge to PDP that is likely to return to power,” said a political
analyst.
A senior PDP leader said the
agenda of alliance was the blueprint for governing the state.
“It was accepted by the BJP which
represent rest of the country. There can’t be any re-negotiation on it (agenda
of alliance) and the wheel hasn’t to be re-invited,” said the PDP leader.
He acknowledged that power sector
was crucial for economic development.
“There is a political initiative
to the agenda of alliance but the picture will be completed only once the
economic initiatives in different sectors like power are taken and fulfilled,”
said the PDP leader.
Courtesy: Greater Kashmir
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