Dec 28 2010
The Indian Government via its subsidiary company, National Hydroelectric Power (NHPC), has planned three additional hydropower projects over the River Chenab with a total capacity of 2120 MW, despite the feud with Pakistan on the Kishanganga project on Neelum River.
The new projects would be a 1000 MW Pakal Dul project on River Marusudar in Doda; the Kawar hydro station at Padyama in Kishtwar District with a 520 MW and the 600 MW Kiru Project planned 25 kms upstream of the Dulhasti Power project at the Kishtwar District. The overall expenditure incurred by these projects have been estimated to be more than Rs.10, 000 crore and the deadline for completing these projects to be executed have been given as the next six years. The projects would be undertaken by a special body, the Chenab Valley Power Development Corporation, set up by the Government of India.
As per the Pakistan-India Indus Waters Basin Treaty instituted in 1960 under the guidance of the World Bank, the Rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were allotted to Pakistan while the Rivers Bias, Sutlej and the Ravi were doled out to India. However, the speed shown by the Pakistani authorities in planning and building hydropower projects has always been dreadfully sluggish, causing huge distress to the power hungry national energy apparatus. The country has had to face severe energy shortage in spite of having abundant water resources and has taken the path of enforced power cuts to solve this problem. The service tenure of Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, the Indus Waters Commissioner, who was the River Water Boss for an incredibly long period, has just been terminated.