Watershed

Even as Jammu and Kashmir reels under a severe power shortage, there are a few border hamlets that enjoy uninterrupted supply, thanks to a w...

Even as Jammu and Kashmir reels under a severe power shortage, there are a few border hamlets that enjoy uninterrupted supply, thanks to a watermill technology provided by a Uttaranchal-based voluntary group.

At more than 50 watermills gharats across the state, power is being generated through a technology passed on by the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation HESCO. The Army and the local people have teamed up to upgrade more watermills.

The power generated at each watermill unit 8212; set up on streams and rivulets in Kashmir, Jammu and Kargil areas 8212; ranges from 3 to 25 KW.

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J-K Governor Lt Gen S.K. Sinha retd was so impressed by the simple and inexpensive technology, which not only lights up homes but also grinds corn, that he has announced the installation of at least 1,000 more turbines in border districts.

Besides, the Indian Army has taken the initiative to upgrade 300 watermills in the state and placed orders for 50 more turbines with HESCO here.

The Governor has also expressed his desire to visit Doon valley in February to have a look at the working of HESCO. GOC-in-Chief, Northen Command, Lt Gen Hari Parsad had visited Doon valley in October 2004 for the same purpose.

8216;8216;Our effort has been to involve the local population in power generation, which would light up their homes at night and run machines like grinders and de-huskers at day to give a fillip to the rural economy,8217;8217; said Dr Anil Joshi of HESCO.

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Case in point is Gagarhill village of Baramulla district, which had no electricity till the Army and the HESCO decided to run a watermill on the village stream last year. The power generated by the watermill lights up 25 houses. Similarly, 80 households of Mandian village in Kupwara were lit up with the installation of a 10-KV turbine there.

8216;8216;People were ecstatic when their houses lit up in Wadwan area and carried me on their shoulders,8217;8217; recalls HESCO member Alok Tripathi, who was instrumental in installing several watermills in J-K.

It was a year ago, in December 2003, that The Indian Express had reported on the HESCO8217;s initiative to provide electricity to remote villages in Arunachal Pradesh with the help of the Army 8212; that led to this J-K partnership.

8216;8216;We are in the process of upgrading such watermills all over the state, particularly in backward Poonch and Rajouri districts,8217;8217; General Officer Commanding GOC G.D. Bakshi of Romeo Force said over the phone.