By: IbniMaqbool
Srinagar: The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation(NHPC) has set the ball rolling for execution of 240 megawatt stage-II of Uri-I hydroelectric project proposed on the river Jhelum in Baramulla district.
The power generating company has approached different departments and authorities for statutory clearances for the proposed project after it signed memorandum of understanding with J&K government over its execution.
On January 3 this year, the NHPC signed an MOU with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) for execution of the proposed project on build-own-operate-transfer basis for a period of 40 years on the river Jehlum in Uri tehsil of Baramulla district.
Documents accessed by The Precious Kashmir reveal that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has approved terms of reference for environmental impact assessment/environmental management plan of the proposed project which is extension of Uri-I.
The NHPC has also placed an indent for diversion of 17 hectares of forestland for the proposed project.
“Total land requirement for the project is 102 hectare of which about 85 hectares is private land and about 17 hectares is forestland (for underground works). Private land required for the project is in possession of NHPC,” read the documents.
The documents also lay bare that has also begun process for environmental clearance of the project.
“DPR formulation for concurrence by Central Electricity Authority is also in process,” the documents reveal.
The stage-I of the project was commissioned in 1997 and has been operating successfully since then. The stage-II of the project was use the existing structure Uri-I barrage for offtake of water required for hydropower generation by constructing additional HRT, power house & TRT.
“A parallel separate HRT is proposed to be constructed for Uri-I stage-II HE project along with surge shaft, pressure shafts and a separate underground power house (near the existing underground power house of Uri-I power station) and TRT,” the documents reveal.
