Srinagar, Mar 01: The recent snowfall and heavy rainfall may have brought smiles to the faces of the people of Kashmir, but it has wreaked havoc on the ambitious Rs 100 crore, 12 MW Hydroelectric Power Project (HEPP) at Cheyari in the Karnah area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Landslides have damaged the roads leading to the project site, while floodwaters triggered by incessant rains have caused significant damage to the site itself.
“Thankfully, there was no human loss. However, landslides have caused cracks in the main roads leading to the project, and floodwaters, triggered by three days of torrential rain, have inundated the site, damaging the HEDP infrastructure,” said Project Manager Muhammad Iqbal Qureshi while speaking to Rising Kashmir.
The project, which was initially slated for completion by June or July of this year, is now expected to be delayed until the end of the year due to the damages caused by flash floods. “We had almost completed all major work, and it was ready to be handed over to the State Power Development Corporation (SPDCL) for distribution,” Qureshi added. He mentioned that the entire workforce is being utilised to clear the debris and sleet brought in by the floodwaters, though the cleanup will take considerable time.
The project is being implemented by New Delhi-based Angelique International Ltd. Despite facing several setbacks, the project had already experienced significant delays. Originally sanctioned in 2012 at a cost of Rs 96.976 crore, it was expected to be completed within a short time frame. Official sources revealed that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were prepared in 2015 after the then government allocated funds for the project under the Prime Minister’s Development Package. However, due to strong opposition from the local community, the project was finally handed over to Angelique International Ltd.
Ghulam Mustafa, the former Sarpanch and a resident of Karnah, recalled how the locals had to put in significant effort and protest to initiate the project’s construction. “We were hoping to see the project functioning by July this year, as promised by the construction company. According to the rules, the locals of Karnah and adjoining areas should be the first beneficiaries of the project,” Mustafa said. He expressed disappointment over the damage caused by the floods, stating that the completion would now be delayed by at least four to five months. “Floodwaters entered the premises, and the main road leading to the project site developed cracks at many points due to the rains,” he added.
MLA Karnah, Javaid Ahmed Mirchal, speaking to Rising Kashmir, said he is in touch with the construction company and is hopeful that all damage will be repaired on a fast-track basis. “It was after a long fight and protests by the people of Karnah that work on the project started. And now, when it was nearing completion, the rains have caused significant damage,” Mirchal said. He expressed confidence that the construction company would work swiftly to address the damage and make the project functional as soon as possible.
It is noteworthy that the project is being built on 70 kanals of land provided by the locals, who were compensated accordingly. Once the project is completed, the SPDCL will oversee the distribution of the 12 MW of electricity generated. The local MLA, however, remains optimistic that the people of Karnah will receive their due share of power from the project once it is up and running.
