SRINAGAR: Saying that Hydro Power is a renewable, economic and eco-friendly benign source of energy, the Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan reiterated State Government's commitment to make the J&K self-reliant in electricity and to provide hydro energy to other States in future.

Addressing the delegates who participated in 2-day National Hydro-Power Convention held at SKICC, organized by India Tech Foundation on "harnessing hydro-power in Northern Himalayan-challenges and opportunities"

Says govt wants review of Central power-sharing arrangement

* Calls for review of Central power sharing formula

SRINAGAR: Terming imposition of water utilization charges on power generation companies as a right decision of his Government, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that he would like the NHPC to re-look its terms and conditions regarding the implementation of hydro-electric projects by taking a leaf from the agreement the State has entered with the private power company vis-à-vis construction of Rattle Hydroelectric Project.

New Delhi State-owned hydroelectric power major NHPC plans to form joint venture companies with private sector hydel project developers to rehabilitate their projects hit by a shortage of funds and lack of technical expertise. Under a proposal being finalised by the NHPC management, the company will pick up stakes of up to 49% in private hydro projects. These projects were allocated by various state governments to private players on the basis of financial commitments and promise of free power to sections of consumers.

When built, the Tipaimukh dam will result in damage to Boro production in the Sylhet region, causing a loss of over Tk 1,000 crore a year, experts have said.

The National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) has obtained concurrence of CEA (Central Elelctricty Authority) for 600 MW Tawang-I and 800 MW Tawang-II Projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

SRINAGAR: Additional Secretary of Union Ministry of Power Davinder Choudhary convened a high level meeting of officers of NHPC, JKPDC and civil administration of the State here today to discuss execution of Hydro Electric Projects planned during 12th Plan and taken up by various agencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Principal Secretary Power Development Department Sudanshu Panday, Managing Director JKPDC Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Secretary in Power Development Department, Secretary Technical Education, Chief Engineer PDD and Senior Officers of NHPC, JKPDC attended the meeting.

State-run NHPC Ltd along with the Bhutan government expects to soon finalise details of a joint venture company, to be set up for developing 770-Mw Chamkharchhu-1 hydro power project in the neighbo

11th plan target could not be met due to environmental problems

The Planning Commission and Power Ministry are believed to have reached a consensus over fixing the capacity addition target at 90,000 MW for the next five years. Earlier, Power Ministry had proposed a target of adding 76,000 MW in the current 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17), keeping fuel constraints in mind. On the other hand Planning Commission wanted the target to be 1,00,000 MW, as the power demand is very high.

SIVASAGAR: Continuing its protest against construction of mega dams at the site of Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), the Sivasagar district unit led by its district general secretary Raju Gogoi, advisor Lu-chun-Shyam Gohain, publicity secretary Jadumoni Bora and Nari Mukti Sangram Samiti, Sivasagar district president and sister of the peasant leader Akhil Gogoi, Ambika Gogoi Saikia today, led a procession from the Boarding Field here to Sivasagar DC Court, and staged a dharna demanding immediate halt to the construction of the dam.