Bhalla introduces bill to amend Transfer of Property Act

Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today introduced in the Legislative Assembly a bill to amend the Transfer of Property Act, 1977.

In the statement of objects and reasons, the Minister said that 1000 Mega Watts Pakaldul, 600 MW Kiru and 520 MW Kawar Hydro Electric Projects on river Chenab are being developed by Joint Venture Company of State Power Development Corporation, NHPC and Power Trading Corporation on BOOM basis.

The MoU was signed by the State Government with NHPC and PTC on October 10, 2008 on the sidelines of the inauguration of Baglihar HEP-I in the presence of Prime Minister, he said, adding as per the MoU without prejudice to J&K Land Laws, the JVC will have exclusive rights over the projects.

Moreover, as per the Clause 10 of the MoU, the lease hold rights of the land required for the projects against payment of land revenue as fixed by the State Government will be granted initially for a period of 40 years, in accordance with the State law, and on the expiry of the period, the lease will be renewed for a further term not exceeding 40 years at a time subject to the maximum period of 90 years.

"The JVC has finally been registered and started functioning but it has been felt that the land has not been formally transferred to it for which a necessary provision is required to be incorporated in Section 140 of the Transfer of Property Act by way of amendment for carving out an exception in the favor of the company titled as Chenab Valley Power Projects (Private) Limited", the Minister said.

PDC taking over Baglihar Power project

PDC taking over Baglihar’s O&M from NHPC on Sept 2  Internal arrangement to meet Engineers shortage

After remaining 'sidelined' for two years, the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation is taking over the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the 450 Mega Watts Baglihar Hydroelectric Project from National Hydroelectric Projects Corporation (NHPC) on September 2, 2011.

Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that Government has conveyed to the NHPC authorities that the two years contract for O&M of the first ever mega State-owned project, which was signed in 2009 at a cost of Rs 150 crore, will not be extended and Power Development Corporation would takeover the O&M from it on September 2, 2011.

The PDC, which had also handled Operation and Maintenance of the project before 2009, has geared itself up to shoulder the major responsibility once again despite having some shortcomings with regard to cadre of engineers, sources informed.

At present, the PDC has four Executive Engineers, 12 Assistant Engineers and 15 Junior Engineers at Baglihar and keeping in view the shifting of daunting task of O&M, it has already set in motion the process of appointing 103 Junior Engineers in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical besides some Civil Draftsman to meet the requirement of manpower at different projects particularly at Baglihar, they said while disclosing that till the time these selections are made, the PDC will make some internal arrangements by seeking engineers from Power Development Department on deputation basis.

Like NHPC, which had further outsourced maintenance part to a company having expertise in the field, the PDC has also floated tenders for engaging companies for routine and annual maintenance of the project as the same needs experts. "September 2 is the last date for receipt of tenders, which were floated on August 10, 2011", they said while disclosing that except Salal Hydroelectric Project, the NHPC has outsourced maintenance part in all its projects.

There will be two separate companies for routine and annual maintenance and they will work under the close supervision of PDC. While annual maintenance is carried out in the months of November and December every year by shutting down the units one by one, the routine maintenance is carried out in the running conditions thus is of more importance, sources said, adding only those companies will be finalized which have the experience of handling not less than 300 Mega Watts of hydro electric project.

In order to ensure smooth functioning of the project following return of O&M, the Power Development Corporation has also entered into an agreement with the M/s Voith Siemens, which had executed the electro-mechanical works of the project. As per the arrangement, two experts of the German company will be at the disposal of PDC round the clock for assistance in automated control of the project.

"No doubt the PDC is also outsourcing maintenance part like NHPC but the return of O&M would help in saving crores of rupees, which were otherwise given to the NHPC during the past two years", they said and hoped that the Government would immediately take steps to create separate cadre of engineers for PDC so that the situation like which prompted the handing over of O&M to NHPC doesn't arise again in future.

Union Power Minister inspects Alchi project

The Union Minister for Power KC Venugopal along with the Minister of State for Power and CAPD Shabir Ahmad Khan today visited 45 MW Alchi hydel project to carry out on the spot inspection of the prestigious power project.

Mr. Venugopal said that Alchi Hydel Station will have a unique position on completion as it is going to be world's highest altitude Power Station.He appreciated the NHPC management for taking the challenge of its construction in tough terrains and inhospitable weather.

Assuring full support of his Ministry in the successful completion of the project, he said the Alchi project on operation would be instrumental for economic growth of the region as it will cater to the varied energy needs of the consumers.

Shabir Ahmad Khan said that after completion of this project, both civilian and defense establishments will be benefitted in a big way, adding the project would ensure dependable power supply to the consumers as well as industrial concerns.

Khan said to sort out issues regarding laying of transmission line, diversion of river Indus and remaining mechanical works of the project, a meeting will be held at Srinagar shortly.

The Chief Engineer, NHPC, JK Sharma gave a power point presentation to the Ministers, highlighting the salient features of 45 MW Alchi hydel project. He said that this project will be commissioned by July 2012.

During their visit to Alchi Hydel Project, Mr. Venugopal also inaugurated a steel truss bridge having span of 60 meters over river Indus, which has been constructed to facilitate supply of construction material to Alchi Hydel project.

The Ministers also visited the world famous 1000 years old Alchi Monastery.

Joint venture for power projects in J&K

Power utility NHPC along with Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation and PTC India have incorporated a joint venture company to implement 2,100-MW hydro electric power projects in J&K.

The new entity Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd was incorporated on June 13.

"The Joint Venture Company will implement Pakal Dul and other hydroelectric projects with an aggregate install capacity of about 2,100 MW in the Chenab river basin of Jammu & Kashmir," NHPC said in a regulatory filing today.

In December last year, Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corp, NHPC and PTC India had inked a promoter’s agreement for setting up the new entity.

Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation and NHPC would have 49 per cent stake each in the joint venture firm while the remaining shareholding would be with PTC India.

Currently, NHPC—the country’s largest hydro electric power producer—is into construction of 10 projects having a total installed capacity of 4,502 MW.

NHPC is preparing detailed project reports for seven projects, having a total capacity of 2,485 MW, according to its website.