JAMMU, Nov 19: The state cabinet on Monday approved to give on lease 567 hectares of land for development of 850-Megawatt Rattle Hydro-electric power project, amid increasing electricity crisis in the region.
An official spokesperson said the meeting which was headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah authorised the JK Power Development Department (PDD) to lease out at least 139 hectares of forest land, 281 hectares of state land, 55 Ha of private land and 92.20 Ha of river bed area.
The land, in Kishtwar district of Jammu region, will be leased out for a period of 35 years from the date of commercial operation, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with power issues which have snowballed into a crisis-like situation particularly as winter has arrived in the Himalayan state.
Recently in Srinagar, the main city of Kashmir region, women protested outside the chief minister’s residence complaining against over-charged bills and erratic power supply.
The cabinet has also authorised the PDD to lease out land to other independent power producers (IPPs) at various locations in the state, the spokesperson added.
