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Mahesh

23/02/24 08:09 AM IST

Kiru Hydel Project

In News
  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at 30 locations at three places linked to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik.
  • The agency is investigating alleged corruption in the award of a contract for the Kiru Hydel Project, in J&K’s Kishtwar district.
Kiru hydel power project
  • It is being constructed between the existing Kirthai II (upstream) and Kwar (downstream) hydel power projects, at an estimated cost of Rs 4,287 crore.
  • It will be developed near the convergence point of river Chenab and the Singad and Bela streams, near the Patharnakki and Kiru villages in Kishtwar district. The deadline for initiating commercial operations is July 2025.
  • It will have a 123-m tall dam from the Chenab’s river bed level.
  • Its reservoir will have a storage capacity of 41.5 million m³ of water.
  • The project will have one 700 m-long, horse-shoe-shaped diversion tunnel for the release of excess water.
  • An underground powerhouse located at the left bank of the river will have four turbines, with a capacity of 156 MW each, raising the total capacity to 624 MW.
  • Apart from helping address the energy demand across northern India and the state’s rural areas, it could aid small-scale and cottage industries.
Implementation agency
  • The Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL) is a joint venture of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation and the Power Trading Corporation.
  • Both the NHPC and JKSPDC have a stake of 49 per cent each and the remaining 2 per cent is with the PTC.
  • The project got environmental clearance from the ministry in June 2016 and received approval from the State Administrative Council (SAC) in January 2019.
  • The foundation stone was laid the next month, with completion expected by 2023.
  • RS Envirolink Technologies prepared the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management plan (EMP) reports in 2016, but the University of Jammu was involved in preparing the initial baseline data for the preliminary EIA and EMP.
  • In October 2018, MGI Infra was awarded the contract to construct a temporary field hostel and site offices for officials.
  • A construction company named Patel Engineering was awarded civil works worth more than Rs 2,200 crores for the construction of a diversion tunnel, concrete dam, pressure shafts, coffer dams, tailrace tunnels, and a powerhouse in 2019.
  • The contracts for civil, hydromechanical and electromechanical works were awarded in February 2020.
  • Hydromechanical work related was awarded to PES Engineers and electromechanical work worth more than Rs 600 crores was awarded to Andritz Hydro.
  • Together, they cover the design, manufacturing, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of turbines, generators, etc.
Corruption charges
  • The FIR alleges that guidelines for e-tendering in the awarding of civil works in the project were not followed.
  • A decision was taken in the 47th Board Meeting of CVPPPL for re-tender through reverse auction, where the bidder quoting the lowest price is to be awarded a contract.
  • After the ongoing tendering process was cancelled, reverse auction through e-tendering was not implemented.
  • The tender was finally awarded to M/s Patel Engineering, according to the FIR.
  • Further, allegations of substandard work and failure to provide jobs to local youth have been made against the hydel project.
Source- Indian Express

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