Guest Post By: Javid Malik
Power-starved JK is goldmine for NHPC, State Contributes 32% Energy To Corporation Kitty Against 68% By 27 Others
Believe it! Out of its entire generation capacity of 5295 MW of energy from 14 power stations spread across India , NHPC is drawing the highest booty of 1680 MW of electricity (32 percent) from Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the 27 states contributing just 3615 MW (68 percent).
Further, out of its 14 power stations, NHPC unilaterally owns four major stations in Jammu and Kashmir – the highest number of power stations owned by the Corporation in any single state. The power projects owned by NHPC in J&K include Salal (I&II) with 690 MW generation capacity, Uri-I with 480 MW, Dulhasti with 390 MW and Sewa-II with 120 MW.
And, what J&K is getting from NHPC in return for the massive exploitation of its water resources - a meager 12 percent (210 MW) energy as royalty - with Corporation having negligible contribution under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the state as compared to other states.
Out of 3615 MW of power being generated by NHPC outside J&K, a big state like Madhya Pradesh contributes 1520 MW from two power stations, Himachal Pradesh contributes 1020 MW from three power stations, Sikkim gives 570 MW from two power stations, Uttarakhand 400 MW from two power stations and Manipur 105 MW from one power station.
Out of the 10 upcoming power stations of NHPC, the highest number of four stations with generation capacity of 660 MW would be again in Jammu & Kashmir. These include Uri-II (240 MW), Kishenganga (330 MW), Nimo Bazgo (45 MW) and Chutak (44 MW).
NHPC is again a major share-holder in the joint venture - Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Limited - in association with the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and Power Trading Corporation of India (PTCI) for executing three projects totaling 2,120 MW on the Chenab river basin. These include Bursar power project with 1020 MW capacity and Pakal Dul with 1000 MW.
As per its balance sheet, NHPC has earned net profit of Rs 2167 crore during the fiscal 2010-2011 from its cumulative power sales. Given the percentage of electricity being contributed by J&K to its kitty, the state’s share in the Corporation’s net profit amounts to around Rs 700.
Pertinently, NHPC Chairman and Managing Director A B L Srivastava made a startling revelation at a press conference in New Delhi on October 28 this year, when he stated that Jammu & Kashmir government has withdrawn the cess it used to levy on hydro power projects in the state. This, he said, added Rs 453 crore to the Corporation’s profit in the last six months. Srivastava’s disclosure was in contradiction to the claims of the state government that it had recovered around Rs 500 crore as water usage charges from NHPC.
Curiously, while NHPC has undertaken various community welfare schemes in areas like education, healthcare, heritage conservation, poverty eradication, vocational training, women’s welfare and sports activities in various states where its power projects are located, in J&K there is no visible presence of the Corporation in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sector.
“What could be more ironic than the fact that most of the villages that fall in the catchment area of two NHPC power projects (Salal and Dulhasti) on Chenab basin are not only most underdeveloped but some of them are without electricity even after 60 years of independence,” laments Civil Society activist, Shakil Qalandar.
Paradoxically, against the generation of 1680 MW of hydro power in J&K, Himachal Pradesh has limited the NHPC’s power generation capacity to only 1020 MW in the State and is presently generating around 1000 MW on its own J&K’s power generation in the state sector is a paltry 750 MW.
