Srinagar, Jan 6 (Reporter) Jammu & Kashmir politicians have hit out at the administration for supplying electricity to Rajasthan from the Ratle Hydroelectric Project in Kishtwar. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said this would “rob” the people of Jammu and Kashmir of basic amenities. Ratle Hydro Electric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a joint venture company of NHPC Limited and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation, on Wednesday entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for supplying electricity to Rajasthan Urja Vikas and IT Services Limited. The PPA was signed in Jaipur. As per the agreement, the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project in J&K’s Kishtwar will provide power to Rajasthan for a period of 40 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the project and as per power allocation to be notified by the Union Ministry of Power. The PDP chief Mehbooba reacted sharply to the development. “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 inhabitants of J&K,” she said in a post on X. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday asked the government to clear the air on the agreement claiming that it has created a lot of misgivings among the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Party’s State spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said that the agreement has stirred the hornet's nest as the terms and conditions on the face of it are seemingly to the disadvantage of J&K. "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. The fresh agreement for offtake of electricity for a period of 40 years has further added to the looming scepticism. Government should bring out a 'white paper' on the agreement informing people about its underlying purpose and what benefits will J&K reap from it,” he said. Imran further said that the government should have prioritised providing electricity to the domestic consumers firstly as the looming energy crisis being severely felt across J&K was far from over. “For electricity starved people of J&K, is this agreement a solution? It's a question that the government has to answer. It makes no sense that at a time when J&K is grappling with electricity crisis, the government is selling out electricity to other states,” he added. Jammu & Kashmir Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said the leasing of electricity was puzzling. “At a time when the entire Jammu and Kashmir is facing an acute electricity crisis, especially in its rural areas, the reported leasing out of electricity from Ratle Hydroelectricity 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...////...