Kishenganga power project a non-starter

The Central government is scrutinising the steep escalation costs of 330-MW Kishenganga power project. The project proposed on a tributary of river Jhelum in Gurez Valley is proving to be a non-starter due to 68 per cent cost escalation. While modifying the design of the project by reducing storage, Union Cabinet had approved the project at the cost of Rs. 2238 crore in July 2007. But, even after eight months since the Cabinet approval the major works could not be awarded due to high price bids.