Srinagar, Sep 24 : Congress leader and MLA Nizamuddin Bhat on Thursday raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly the denial of a two-year extension for the environmental clearance of the 93-MW New Ganderbal Hydroelectric Power project, and sought a statement from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the power portfolio.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, MLA Nizamuddin Bhat as per Kashmir Convener said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) has refused to extend the environmental clearance until a fresh proposal is submitted. cM Omar Abdullah was not present in the House when the matter was raised.
“It is an intrusion into the powers of the popular government. Why was the UT government not consulted on this issue by the ministry? I request the government to answer this issue in the House,” MLA Bhat said, quoting from a media report.
The 60th meeting of the EAC on river valley and hydroelectric projects in New Delhi last month asked the J&K authorities to submit an updated proposal. The J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) had sought a two-year extension of the environmental clearance for the project, pending since it was conceived in 1996.
Speaking to reporters after the House was adjourned for the day, the MLA from Bandipora as per Kashmir Convener said he takes exception to the “political aspect of the denial of the environmental clearance extension”.
“The Union Ministry should have consulted the UT government beforehand. Now, the fresh DPR will take years. Why is there a denial of the legitimate right to the UT government? Why was the government not consulted?” he asked.
MLA Bandipora said the government’s statement is needed in the House as power projects in Jammu and Kashmir have either been surrounded by controversy or faced inordinate delays.
“Chief Minister should assert his position. He is a power minister. I made an appeal to him (CM) to make a statement. But the CM was not in the House since the issue was raised. But I hope they (the government) will respond,” he said.
Originally, the Ministry of Environment and Forests granted environmental clearance for the project in September 2013, valid for 13 years until September 2026. Under the ministry’s rules, a two-year extension can be granted. The Centre’s panel, however, expressed concern that the project is “unlikely to be completed within the existing environmental clearance”.
“Even if a further extension of two years up to 26.09.2028 is considered, the project construction works as well as implementation of the environmental management plan (EMP) would still not be completed within the extended validity period,” it said.
MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said the “reasons look plausible” but Jammu and Kashmir is losing one more hydropower project. “A common man is suffering. The power project which could give millions is now put on hold,” he added.
In 2019, the Governor Satya Pal Malik-led State Administrative Council (SAC) cancelled the contract awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) for development of the project at a cost of over Rs 819 crore after it failed to implement it.
A fresh proposal for awarding the main project works to the L1 bidder joint venture between HCC-CPPPL (JV), resulting from the third round of tendering in 2022, has been submitted to the J&K government for approval, said the JKPDC.
The run-of-the-river New Ganderbal project over Nallah Sindh, a tributary of river Jhelum, falls in CM Omar Abdullah’s constituency. It was contemplated after the existing 15-MW Ganderbal hydropower project outlived its life.
Once commissioned, it is expected to generate an estimated 382.82 GWh of electricity annually, potentially changing the scenario of energy-deficient Kashmir. The proposed project includes a gross head of 163.5 metres and a net head of 142.2 metres with three penstocks, each 265 metres in length, to carry water to the turbines.
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