The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir-based political parties have expressed serious concern that the union territory’s administration has decided to lease out electricity from a major under-construction power project to Rajasthan – even though J&K has been facing a very acute power shortage.
The Ratle Hydro Electric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the J&K State Power Development Corporation, entered into a power purchase agreement with the Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited for offtake of electricity, The Telegraph reported. This agreement was reportedly signed on January 3 in Jaipur. It will be in place for 40 years from the date the project begins commercial activities.
Earlier this winter, it was reported that electricity production in Kashmir has hit a record low of 50-100 MegaWatts (MWs) against the demand of 1800 MWs. As a result, the valley, home to over 70 lakh people, is facing 12-16 hour long power cuts – the longest in the last two decades.
Given this reality, the contract to lease power to Rajasthan has created outrage in J&K. “At a time when J&K is facing a severe power crisis never witnessed before, our hydro-electric resources are being outsourced to other states. Yet another decision that will rob people of basic amenities with an intention to collectively punish the inhabitants of J&K,” former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said on X.
The National Conference too came out strongly against the plan, saying in a statement, “Normally, power purchase agreements usually last for a maximum of 20 years. However, in this case, they are signing it for 40 years at a pre-negotiated price, which is also unknown. There has been a feeling of betrayal amongst the people of J&K that their resources are being bartered away.”
J&K Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari stated that it was difficult to understand why such a decision had been taken. “At a time when the entire J&K is facing an acute electricity crisis, especially in its rural areas, the reported leasing out of electricity from Rattle Power Project Kishtwar to Rajasthan is quite puzzling. The J&K administration has off and on came on record claiming that it has been buying the power supply from other states to meet the demands in the Union Territory, while at the same time leasing out its own supply to another state is beyond comprehension. I urge the J&K administration to come clear on the facts,” he said, according to The Hindu.