SRINAGAR, Sep 29: The Standing Committee of State Board for Wildlife (SBW) has recommended the proposal to National Wildlife Board (NWB) for Wildlife clearance for construction of 400 KV Double Circuit (DC) Samba- Amargarh (Sopore) Transmission Line of NRSS-XXIX Transmission Limited.
This decision was taken in the 9th meeting of Standing Committee of State Board for Wildlife held under the Chairmanship of Minister for Forests, Environment, Wildlife and Social Welfare Mr. Bali Bhagat here today.
The Samba- Amargarh Double Circuit Transmission Line will transmit 1000 MW power from Jammu to Kashmir Valley. The line shall ensure reliable and stable power supply to Kashmir valley and will also feed Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch and Shopian areas.
The Committee decided that 5 per cent of project cost which is in proportion to length of the transmission line passing through Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary will be provided by the user agency for establishment and conservation of Vulture/Pheasants Breeding centre at a suitable area. The user agency shall also pay Net Present Value (NPV) charges for the land to be diverted for project development and Markhor conservation, the meeting decided.
The meeting further decided that the user agency shall ensure that there is no violation with regard to ecological balance, sanitation and there is no damage to Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary as well as local flora and fauna of the area during the construction.
Presenting salient features of the project through power point presentation, Project Director Subash Ghosal informed that the proposed transmission line project requires 77.51 hectares forest land for which the department has already obtained clearance from the forest department.
Pertinently, the existing corridor of Transmission Lines for Kashmir valley which are routed through Udhampur-Batote-Banihal-Pir Panchal Pass are prone to snow storm, landslide and other natural calamities making power supply to Kashmir Valley vulnerable and results in huge power crisis especially during winter season. Therefore there is a need to lay an alternate Transmission Line from Jammu via Akhnoor, Rajouri, Poonch and Shopian to Kashmir Valley to overcome any such power crisis.
The Standing Committee meeting also took stock of follow up action taken on various decisions taken in the previous meeting.
Among others, Principal Secretary Forests Mr. R. K. Gupta, PCCF, Chief Wildlife Warden, Director Social Forestry, Deputy Advocate General, Chief Conservators of Forests, SSP traffic, besides NRSS consultants were present in the meeting.
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