CVPPPL Halts New Hydropower Projects

Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL), a key player in Jammu and Kashmir's hydropower generation sector, has revealed that it hasn't commissioned new projects recently. This disclosure comes through a Right to Information (RTI) query, where CVPPPL confirmed the absence of recent project completions. The company, a joint venture between NHPC (51%) and JKSPDC (49%), was established in 2011 to harness the region's hydro potential. Although CVPPPL is currently engaged in three power projects under construction and one awaiting clearance, it has not contributed to power generation in recent times. CVPPPL's focus has not been on the Kashmir division, but rather on regions where they have initiated significant projects, including Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW), and the upcoming 930 MW Kirthai-II Hydroelectric Power Project in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Tasked with constructing multiple projects on a Build, Own, Operate, and Maintain (BOOM) basis with a total capacity of 3094 MW, the absence of new power generation has resulted in the government's increased expenditure on purchasing power from external sources, exacerbating the financial burden. Jammu and Kashmir faces a severe power crisis due to an imbalance between electricity demand and supply. The crisis, particularly acute in Kashmir, underscores the need for expediting ongoing power projects to bridge the energy deficit and address the region's pressing power needs.