• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the investment of Rs.5281.94 crore for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

    • The investment is by a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) to be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51% and 49% respectively.

    • Government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for Equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for construction of Ratle HE Project (850 MW).

    • NHPC shall invest its equity Rs.808.14 crore from its internal resources.

    • The Ratle Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 60 months.

    • The Power generated from the Project will help in providing balancing of Grid and will improve the power supply position.  

    • Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to make the Project viable, will extend exemption from levy of Water Usage Charges for 10 years after commissioning of the project.

    • The exemption will extend to reimbursement of State's share of GST (i.e. SGST) and waiver of free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a decremental manner, i.e., the free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir would be 1% in the 1st year after commissioning of the Project and rising @1% per year to 12% in the 12th year.

    • The construction activities of the Project will result in direct and indirect employment to around 4000 persons and will contribute in overall socio-economic development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

    • Further, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be benefitted by getting free power worth Rs. 5289 crore and through levy of Water Usage Charges worth Rs.9581 crore from Ratle Hydro Electric Project, during project life cycle of 40 years.

About Ratle Hydroelectric Plant

    • The Ratle Hydroelectric Plant is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station currently under construction on the Chenab River.

    • The project includes a 133 m (436 ft) tall gravity dam and two power stations adjacent to one another.

    • The installed capacity of both power stations will be 850 MW.

    • J&K has over 20,000 MW of hydro power potential, out of which 16,000 MW has been identified.

    • While the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul project and 624 MW Kiru are already under execution by Chenab Valley Power Project Private Limited (CVPPL).

    • 850 MW Ratle Project will ensure that over 3,000 MW additional generating capacity will be available to supplement the demand-supply position in J&K and boost the overall economy of the UT.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)