Ratle Hydro Electric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a collaboration between NHPC Limited and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), has finalized a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited.
This agreement pertains to the procurement of power generated from the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar, Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The PPA spans 40 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the project, following the power allocation specified by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
The signing of the PPA took place in Jaipur on January 3, 2024, in the presence of senior officials from RHPCL and Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited.
However, the recent power purchase agreement has sparked concerns among regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir.
Imran Nabi Dar, spokesperson for the National Conference (NC), called for clarification, expressing unease over the extended duration of the agreement, which typically lasts for a maximum of 20 years. Mr. Dar emphasized the need for transparency, urging the government to release a white paper detailing the agreement’s purpose and the anticipated benefits for Jammu & Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the decision to supply electricity to Rajasthan from the Ratle Power Project. She argued that this move would deprive the people of Jammu & Kashmir during a severe power crisis.
Altaf Bukhari, president of J&K Apni Party, found the government’s decision puzzling, especially given the acute electricity shortage in the region. The reported leasing of electricity from the Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar to Rajasthan raises questions about the allocation of resources amidst the pressing power needs within Jammu & Kashmir.