Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and laid the Foundation Stone of the Pakal Dul Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir. Pakal Dul, with 1000 MW capacity, will be the largest Hydro Power Project in Jammu & Kashmir on completion. It is also the first storage Project in Jammu & Kashmir.
330 MW Kishanganga Hydro Electric Project, located in Bandipora District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is a run of river scheme. All units of the project have been sychronised on 30.03.2018 and the annual generation of the main project is 1712.96 MU. The Project has been proposed to be completed at a cost of Rs. 5882 crore.
Kishangana Hydroelectric Project will provide a free power of 13 per cent to the state, which will be around Rs. 133 crore per year. There are other benefits to the state like- Employment to the people of J&K, infrastructure development etc.
It is estimated that the project engaged about 1850 local persons during construction stage and 750 local persons during operation stage through direct and indirect employment. The Project was handed over to NHPC for execution by the State Government after an MoU was signed between J&K Govt. and Ministry of Power, Govt of India in July 2000.
The project cost of Pakal Dul as per CCEA sanction is Rs. 8112.12 crore and it is supported by the Government of India as well as the Government of J&K. Timelines of implementation is 66 Monthsfrom the start of the Project. It shall be leading to additional Generation of 650 MU in downstream projects as it is a storage type project and shall improve the water availability during the lean season.
Pakal Dul project will have immense benefits for J&K. Around 3000 persons shall be employed directly/ indirectly during construction phase of the project. Further, around 500 persons shall be employed directly/indirectly during operation phase of the Project. It has been agreed that the Govt. of J&K shall be getting 12 per cent free power after 10 years of commissioning of the Project and water usage charges as applicable. Additional 1 per cent free power will go towards Local Area Development Fund (LADF). Govt. of J&K has first right to purchase balance power of NHPC (49%) & PTC (2%). Furthermore, local population will be benefitted by the improvement and widening of roads and improvement of bridges under the Project.