Prime Minister Dedicates URI-II Power Station (240 Mw) To The Nation

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the Nation the 240 MW URI-II Power Station of NHPC located in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. On this occasion, Shri N.N.Vohra, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India and other senior officials of Ministry of Power and NHPC were present.
Shri 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. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed on environment friendly development in the era of global warming. He also said that Jammu and Kashmir is blessed with hydro power potential of about 14000 MW which needs to be harnessed. The Prime Minister thanked all concerned for their support in completion of Uri-II Power Station. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, thanked Prime Minister for dedicating Uri-II Power Station to the Nation. He congratulated NHPC for successful completion of the Project and also appreciated the initiatives undertaken by NHPC for development of hydro power.

URI-II Power Station is a 240 MW run of the river scheme on the Jhelum River, located near Salamabad village of Uri Tehsil in Baramulla District (J&K) built at a cost of around Rs. 2300 crore. The salient features of the project include 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 utilized with an installed capacity of 240 MW comprising of 4 units of 60 MW each which would generate 1123 MU of electricity annually.

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 bedded project Hospital with modern facilities at the project site will soon be available to the local people. Some important initiatives include approval for construction of a sports stadium at Chehla near Boniyar at a cost of Rs. 300 Lakh and sanction of Rs. 50 Lakh for construction of a Bus Stand 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 Rs. 984 lakh in the State till March, 2014 and a further amount of Rs. 1268 Lakh is proposed to be spent during the current financial year.

NHPC is today a premier organization in the country in the field of development of hydroelectric projects. A total installed capacity of 6507 MW is under operation, which includes 2 projects with a total installed capacity of 1520 MW in Joint Venture. There are 4 projects (3290 MW) under construction. The technical capabilities of NHPC in executing hydroelectric projects are unmatched in the country.