Govt to hire experts to evaluate designs of hydropower projects

{ BID TO EXPEDITE CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS

- Zia Haq

The Centre has decided to hire outside experts on fixed contracts to evaluate designs of planned hydropower projects, a move aimed at speeding up construction of several dams in the pipeline, an official aware of the details said on Wednesday.

The country plans to expedite construction of a slew of hydroelectric projects to meet its burgeoning power needs, especially in Jammu & Kashmir and the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. It has prioritised the construction of key projects in J&K, including the 930 MW Kirthai II, 240 MW Uri-1 stage II, and 260 MW Dulhasti stage II.

The development comes months after India kept in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, which governed dams on cross-border rivers, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which is mandated to approve designs of large dams, will hire professionals to carry out geological investigations as well as to study and vet detailed project reports, according to a statement uploaded on the agency's website on Wednesday.