PM inaugurates 450 MW Baglihar hydel project in J&K

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has inaugurated the 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project built on the river Chenab in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir amid tight security today on Friday. He is in the state on a two-day visit, commenced from today. After inaugurating the Project in the presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Governor N N Vohra and Union Ministers Lalu Prasad and Jairam Ramesh, Prime Minister said special care has been taken in the implementation of the project to meet the genuine concerns of Pakistan, which had raised objections over the project with World Bank. In 2005, Pakistan had unilaterally approached the World Bank - the third party to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, which appointed Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss national, as arbitrator. Pakistan had apprehension that the dam would drift water from its territory. After some modifications in the design, Raymond had given go-ahead to the project. With the commissioning of the power plant, Dr. Singh said the power generating capacity of the state would be doubled from 309 MW to 759 MW. PM arrived at the Udhampur Air Force base and then flew to Doda for the inauguration of the Baglihar dam. Ahead of Singh?s visit to the state, separatists have called for a strike to protest PM?s visit in the state. Peaceful protests after prayer on Friday and whole day protest on Saturday has been called by the separatists. The Baglihar Project has been completed at a cost of Rs 5200 crore and will generate 2800 million units of electricity every year. The 900 MW hydel project was to be built in two phases of 450 MW each. The first phase of the project had started in 1999 and after its completion, today has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Singh said work on the second phase of the power plant with a capacity of 450 MW would be commenced very soon. The commissioning of the project is expected to give a major boost to the power sector of the state reeling under acute electricity shortage. The Prime Minister will later fly to Srinagar where he will meet leaders of various political parties comprising National Conference, Congress, PDP, and CPM; and flag off the first intra-Kashmir valley train on Saturday.