Ganderbal: Three hydro power projects in district Ganderbal are generating 39 MW of electricity against the capacity of 142 MW. The official’s claim that the minimum discharge is due to decreased water level, sources say, ‘failure is due to negligence of government towards maintenance’.
Sources say that the three power projects, Ganderbal hydro power project of 15 MW, Upper Sindh hydro power project-Ist (USHP-I) Sumbal of 22 MW and Upper Sindh hydro power project -2nd (USHP-II) Kangan of 105 MW, have been neglected and ‘machines are getting rusted due to official apathy’.
Ganderbal Hydro power project one of the oldest power projects of the valley and first power project of Ganderbal district, established in 1955, ‘once used to generate 15 MW of power is now able to generate only 1 to 2 MW of the power’, said an official wishing anonymity.
Another power project Upper Sindh Hydro power project Ist (USHP-I) Sumbal of 22 MW that was commissioned in 1973 with the generating capacity of 22 MW presently generates only 6 to 7 MW of power.
The third power project in the district at Tehsil Kangan. The power project Upper Sindh Hydro power project 2nd (USHP-II) was set up in the 2001 with the generating capacity of 105 MW but at present the power project generates 5 to 10 MW of power in the day and 30 MW of power in evening, source confided.
“At least government should have enquired from officials of state power development department about the failure of hydro power projects but they are least bothered. No one asks,” said sources.
Director Jammu & Kashmir State power Development Corporation Dr. Shah faisal however told INS that the minimum discharge of electricity from the power projects ‘is due to decreased water level only’.
