J&K Govt Hands Over Major Hydropower Projects to NHPC: PDP MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Parra
PDP’s Parra Criticizes J&K Move to Hand Hydropower Projects to NHPC
Jammu, April 2, KNT: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Parra on Thursday criticized the Jammu and Kashmir government for handing over two hydropower projects to NHPC Ltd, raising concerns over limited local benefits from the agreement.
Parra said the government had transferred the 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II and 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II projects to NHPC, with a combined capacity of 500 MW.
The projects will be developed under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model for 40 years before being handed back to the Union Territory, according to details cited by the legislator.
The criticism comes amid a broader political debate in Jammu and Kashmir over control of hydropower resources, with opposition leaders arguing that such agreements reduce the region’s share in its own energy assets. The issue has gained renewed attention as the Union Territory continues to face electricity shortages while exporting power to the national grid.
Parra said that under the terms of the agreement, Jammu and Kashmir would receive “over 12 percent” of the electricity generated from NHPC-operated projects, while the remaining power would be supplied to the grid.
He added that the government then purchases electricity at market rates to meet local demand, describing the arrangement as contributing to the region’s ongoing power deficit.
Referring to past policy decisions, Parra said earlier recommendations had called for greater local control over hydropower assets.
He cited a 2006 working group set up by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, led by former Reserve Bank of India Governor C. Rangarajan, which had recommended transferring projects such as Dulhasti and Bursar to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Parra, those recommendations were not implemented.
He also referred to a 2011 cabinet sub-committee formed under the then National Conference-led government, which examined the terms of hydropower transfers to NHPC and proposed that certain projects be developed by the state following ownership transfer.
Parra said those proposals were also not acted upon.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has not immediately responded to the remarks.
NHPC Ltd and JKSPDCL signed the agreement for the two projects on March 27 in Jammu, officials have said earlier.
Hydropower remains a key resource in Jammu and Kashmir, which has an estimated potential of over 20,000 MW, though only a portion has been developed so far.
Political parties in the region have repeatedly raised concerns over ownership, revenue sharing and access to electricity generated from local rivers, making the issue a recurring point of contention in policy discussions. [KNT]
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