Governor N. N. Vohra has directed that all existing impediments in effectively harnessing the small hydro, wind energy and solar power potential in the State should be removed immediately. The Governor reviewed all issues relating to the harnessing of new and renewable energy resources in the State in a meeting, held at the Raj Bhavan today, which was attended by Shri B.R. Sharma, Chief Secretary; Shri P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor, Shri Navin K. Choudhary, Commissioner, Finance; Shri Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner, Power Development Department; Shri Satesh Nehru, Secretary, Science and Technology; and Shri Shafat Sultan, Chief Executive Officer, JAKEDA.Among the issues discussed were: the enhancement of JAKEDA’s mandate to execute small hydro projects beyond the present 2 MW; strengthening JAKEDA’s institutional frame work and capacity; urgent finalization of roof top solar policy; development of Solar Power Parks; signing of Power Purchase Agreements for the power produced by the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) etc.The Governor established an empowered High Level Committee (HLC), headed by the Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department, and Principal Secretary, Forests; Commissioner, Finance; Commissioner, Power Development Department; and Secretary, Science and Technology Department as members.
This HLC will be empowered to examine and resolve all pending issues and remove all impediments to ensure maximum possible harnessing of the small hydro potential in the State. The HLC will also revisit the existing institutional framework, including the feasibility of improving institutional interface with J&K SPDC and identify steps for capacity building in the JAKEDA, to enable it to effectively carry out its mandate. It will also extend requisite hand holding support to JAKEDA for accord of single window clearance for the IPP projects bid out from time to time, till the award of contracts. The HLC will also examine various policy issues relating to fixation of tariff and signing of PPAs by JAKEDA, and all other related issues, and closely monitor and review progress. The HLC shall send monthly progress reports to the Governor.