GreaterKashmir.com: UMER MAQBOOL:Monday, August 22, 2011.
Srinagar, Aug 21: Union Power Ministry has asked the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to provide information regarding power projects of Jammu and Kashmir to the Kashmir-based civil society group, which had filed an application under Right to Information Act for the same two weeks back.
In response to the RTI application, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Power, Kamal Bose has asked Chief Engineer and Public Information Officer of the NHPC to provide the desired information regarding Salal Hydel Project and other issues to the group.
Following the J&K High Court direction on July 28 , the group had filed an application before the Union Power Ministry and NHPC asking them why 790-MW Salal and 480-MW Uri-I power projects have not been returned to J&K as “investment incurred on them has come down to zero depreciated value.”.
The PIL was filed by Syed Shakeel Qalander (former president FCIK), Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Bashir Assad, Qurat-ul-ain, Ghulam Nabi Naik, Qasim Sajad, Khurshid Alam, Khalid Hussain, Jagmohan Singh Raina and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat.
In a letter the Ministry has requested NHPC “to provide the requisite information to the applicant on point I, II, IV & V of para 5 of the RTI application related to copies of documentary proof in support of MOU/Agreement entered into between State Government and GOI/NHPC in regard to construction of Salal Hydel Project and other issues.”
In response to the RTI application, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Power, Kamal Bose has asked Chief Engineer and Public Information Officer of the NHPC to provide the desired information regarding Salal Hydel Project and other issues to the group.
Following the J&K High Court direction on July 28 , the group had filed an application before the Union Power Ministry and NHPC asking them why 790-MW Salal and 480-MW Uri-I power projects have not been returned to J&K as “investment incurred on them has come down to zero depreciated value.”.
The PIL was filed by Syed Shakeel Qalander (former president FCIK), Ghulam Nabi Khayal, Bashir Assad, Qurat-ul-ain, Ghulam Nabi Naik, Qasim Sajad, Khurshid Alam, Khalid Hussain, Jagmohan Singh Raina and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat.
In a letter the Ministry has requested NHPC “to provide the requisite information to the applicant on point I, II, IV & V of para 5 of the RTI application related to copies of documentary proof in support of MOU/Agreement entered into between State Government and GOI/NHPC in regard to construction of Salal Hydel Project and other issues.”
“The matter on which information has been sought by the applicant is in the domain of NHPC Ltd. which is a separate public authority in terms of section 6(3) (ii) of the Act,” the letter reads.
Besides, the group has also been informed that their application was being transferred to the Power Ministry.
“A copy of your RTI application dated 1st August, 2011 is being transferred to NHPC in terms of section 6(3) (ii) of the RTI Act, 2005 with the request to provide the requisite information as relevant to NHPC to the applicant,” the officer states.
It had also asked them to divulge details about the quantity of electric energy generated at Salal hydel project since its commissioning in 1987 and the amount generated thereby by the NHPC/ Government of India and the quantity of such electric energy shared with the Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with MOU signed.
As per the cabinet order of 1975 pertaining to setting up of Salal, Jammu and Kashmir was entitled to 50 percent of power generated from the project besides 50 percent share on the returns over selling of remaining power by NHPC. The ownership of the project was to be reverted to the state government after a suitable period on payment of depreciated cost. However the order was never implemented.
Besides, they have also raised query about the cost of investment incurred by NHPC on the construction of these projects and their depreciated value as on date.
Besides, the group has also been informed that their application was being transferred to the Power Ministry.
“A copy of your RTI application dated 1st August, 2011 is being transferred to NHPC in terms of section 6(3) (ii) of the RTI Act, 2005 with the request to provide the requisite information as relevant to NHPC to the applicant,” the officer states.
It had also asked them to divulge details about the quantity of electric energy generated at Salal hydel project since its commissioning in 1987 and the amount generated thereby by the NHPC/ Government of India and the quantity of such electric energy shared with the Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with MOU signed.
As per the cabinet order of 1975 pertaining to setting up of Salal, Jammu and Kashmir was entitled to 50 percent of power generated from the project besides 50 percent share on the returns over selling of remaining power by NHPC. The ownership of the project was to be reverted to the state government after a suitable period on payment of depreciated cost. However the order was never implemented.
Besides, they have also raised query about the cost of investment incurred by NHPC on the construction of these projects and their depreciated value as on date.
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