Union Cabinet nod for Jammu and Kashmir Rattle Power Project

SRINAGAR: In a bid to end the power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Cabinet has approved the 850MW Rattle Power Project worth Rs 5822 crore, to be completed in the next five years, despite opposition from Pakistan, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha confirmed on Wednesday.
The Rattle dam is currently under construction on the Chenab river. While Pakistan has alleged that the dam construction violates the Indo-Pak Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960, India has always maintained that it is a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity project which doesn’t violate the treaty.Pakistan has been objecting to the project since 2015 when they sent a communication to the Indian government besides sending over a group of experts for inspection.
Lauding the Centre’s move, Sinha said the J&K administration and Indian government are committed to ensuring 24-hour uninterrupted power for residents. “The project share will be 51% owned by NHPC and 49% by J&K SPDC,” he said. The project — which was approved despite Pakistan threatening to approach the International Court and World Bank about the issue — will create 4,000 jobs and preference will be given to local youths during recruitment, Sinha added.
Sinha said four more projects — Kirthai-II (930MW), Sawalkot (1,856MW), Uri-I (Stage-II) (240MW) and Dulhasti (Stage-II) (258MW) — involving an investment of Rs 31,000 crore will be taken up. These projects along with the two ongoing projects of Pakaldul (1000 MW) and Kiru (624MW) on Chenab river and its tributaries will result in an investment of about Rs 52,821 crore and create more than 12,000 jobs in the Union Territory. To train locals, the ministries of power and skill development will set up training centres near the project sites in collaboration with NHPC.