By IANS
New Delhi : The first unit of the controversial 450-MW Baglihar hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to be commissioned in May next year, said a top official.
“The technical glitch encountered recently in building a new tunnel at the Baglihar hydroelectric project is minor and should not slow further implementation work on the project,” Ashok Kumar, chief engineer in the hydro project monitoring division of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) told IANS.
“The first unit is likely to be commissioned in May and the remaining capacity envisaged at the project should be commissioned by July,” he added.
The project was earlier scheduled for commissioning by December this year.
The Baglihar project, comprising three units of 150 MW each, is being developed by Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corp. Jaypee Associates has been contracted to implement the project.
On being commissioned, the plant is expected to significantly improve power supply in the border state.
Controversy has dogged the 450-MW Baglihar project right from the beginning.
Even before the project could get off the ground, the Pakistan government raised serious objections over the dam design proposed for the project, citing provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, a framework agreement signed by India and Pakistan for sharing of Indus River water after the creation of Pakistan.
Following that, the matter came to a World Bank arbitration panel.
Although the panel ruled in favour of India, it recommended key changes in the dam design proposed for the project.
After that, the area saw abnormal flooding in 2005 that choked and seriously damaged diversion tunnels built for the project, forcing the developer to adopt an innovative technique to create a new diversion tunnel.