PM dedicates 240-MW URI-II power station to nation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated the 240 MW URI-II power station of NHPC, located in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, to the nation.

Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with hydro power potential of about 14000 MW which needs to be harnessed, he said, while stressing the need for environment friendly development in the era of global warming.

The URI-II power station is a 240 MW run-of-the-water scheme on the Jhelum River, located near Salamabad village of Uri Tehsil in Baramulla District of J&K, built at a cost of around Rs2,300 crore.

The project includes a concrete gravity dam of 43.7 m height and 157 m length with head regulator, around 9 km long water conductor system comprising of an open channel, HRT, TRT and an underground power house.

A net head of 118 m is being utilised with an installed capacity of 240 MW comprising of units of 60 MW each which would generate 1123 MU of electricity annually.

Modi, while dedicating the power station to the nation, said the project is one step closer to fulfilling the commitment by the government to light the nation. He said power generation is vital for the economic development of the society.

During the construction of this project, considerable infrastructure development has taken place in the area. Local people have been employed with NHPC and with other companies associated with the work of the project. Various area development activities under relief and rehabilitation work and corporate social responsibility have been taken up by NHPC.

A twenty-bed hospital with modern facilities at the project site will soon be available to the local people. Other initiatives include approval for construction of a sports stadium at Chehla near Boniyar at a cost of Rs3 crore and sanction of Rs50 Lakh for construction of a bus station at Uri.

As part of its commitment for the overall development of Jammu & Kashmir, NHPC has adopted seven ITIs for up-gradation in the state at Reasi, Ramban, Kargil, Leh, Kishtwar, Bandipora and Uri. In addition, NHPC would be setting up a Hydro Training Institute at Kangan near Ganderbal, for which an MoU has been signed between NHPC and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC). Under its CSR initiatives, NHPC has already spent Rs9.8 crore in the state till March 2014 and a further amount of Rs12.68 crore is proposed to be spent during the current financial year.

NHPC is the premier organisation in the country in the field of development of hydroelectric projects, with a total installed capacity of 6507 MW under operation, which includes 2 joint venture projects with a total installed capacity of 1,520 MW.

There are 4 projects with a capacity of 3290 MW under construction.

PM provides instant relief to school children, parents

Prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Uri saw instant relief being brought to parents concerned about the education of their children.

When it was brought to the attention of the prime minister that the local kendriya vidyalaya in Uri offered classes only till Standard X, compelling parents to send their children to Srinagar, nearly 3 hours away, to complete standards XI and XII, Modi instantly swung to action. Within minutes, an order was issued stating that the current kendra vidyalaya will extend classes to standard XII, this July itself.

This expeditious move and instant resolution of a long-standing demand was immensely appreciated and cheered by the staff of NHPC as well as the locals.