Will buy back Uri-I from NHPC: Minister

Accusing the NHPC of not adhering to agreements with the state, Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi ud Din Monday said that ruling coalition Government intends buy back Uri-I project with two-years.

Addressing a daylong seminar organized by a civil society group here, the Minister said water resources are a trust of the people, with the government, who have first right over these projects.

"The state government intends to buy back Uri-I project, valued at Rs. 2100 crore, from National Hydro Power Corporation within two years which is expected to give the state an annual revenue of Rs. 1000 to 1500 crore," Taj said.

He asserted that government intends to use water usage charges levied on power generating companies to strengthen power infrastructure in the state.

Dwelling in detail on the history of hydel projects in the state and the relevant correspondence government had with the Central PSU, NHPC, Taj said Salal hydel project was initially conceived by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1922 and in 1969, Centre offered to build the project on bus barr basis.

He said in 1975 the State went into an agreement with the Centre about the project execution which was to be built by the State. "50 per cent power to Jammu and Kashmir, remaining power sale to be shared equally between State and the Centre, all class 2nd and 3rd employees to be recruited from the state. However, the said agreement was not adhered to by the company," he added.

Taj said the balance portion of Rawi canal upstream Basantpur in Kathua district would be completed in three years which would facilitate irrigation to 1.33 lac acres of land in the districts of Kathua, Samba, Jammu districts.

This, he said, would usher another green revolution in the State making it a food sufficient State from a food deficient State.

The Minister also dwelt in detail about the history and non implementation of agreement on Ranjit Sagar Dam by Punjab Government.

He said J&K has contributed 1.12 lac acres of land to the dam including 22 villages of Kathua district but it is yet to get its share from it including 120 megawatts of balance power.

He said the Presidential reference on the issue remained pending without a hearing for 30 years. Since my taking over as the Minister in charge, I pursued the issue and now the State has framed its reply on it.