Government goes 'soft' on National Hydroelectric Power Corporation…

• Even as the deadline to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for completing formalities to continue operations for power generation in the state has expired, Jammu and Kashmir go vernment is yet to take any action under law to proceed on the matter. Under State Water Resources Act, the action by the government could range from penalizing the Corporation to even stopping water supply to its projects. Officials said under the Act the Corporation, which is setting up another five to seven projects in the state, had to complete formalities including obtaining license from Irrigation Department within one year to harness state water resources for power generation from four power projects presently run by it -480 MWs Uri-I, 390 MWs Dulhasti, 690 MWs Salal and 120 MWs Sewa-II.

• Though the deadline expired on November 12, state government has taken a casual approach after blowing trumpet on the issue for almost a year. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Minister for Irrigation Taj Mohi-ud-Din said they have sent notices to the NHPC General Managers of four power projects. "We have made it clear in the notices that the Corporation has not p rocessed the licenses for continuing operation and it will be doing so illegally, making it liable for penalties under the law," Taj said. Asked what is stopping government from taking action, Taj said law will take its own course. "The department will take action step by step as per the law. We will not sit silent," he said.

• The minister said he has already written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is also the Power Minister, to take up with the Government of India the return of two power projects, Uri-I and Salal, from NHPC. "There is a well defined condition on it," Taj said. Talking to Greater Kashmir, civil society activist and former chairman FCIK, Shakeel Qalander, said the documents obtained by them from NHPC, Union Power Ministry and state government shows that NHPC is "illegally and unconstitutionally controlling the projects." "A state minister had announced publicly that government will take over control of the projects if NHPC failed to complete formalities within the set deadline. We fail to understand what is stopping the government from honoring its own commitment and the law," he said. "Any new correspondence with the Corporation will be a mere eye wash," he alleged.