The Environment Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly reviewed the present power scenario in the state during a meeting held here with the senior officers of Power Development Department.The Committee which met here under the Chairmanship of MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami to discuss present power scenario in the state especially in far flung and hilly areas of winter zones.Legislators, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Sheikh IshfaqJabbar, Syed Mohammad Baqir Rizvi, Daleep Singh Parihar, Aijaz Ahmed Mir, Devinder Kumar Manyal, Bashir Ahmed Dar and Rajesh Gupta attended the meeting and gave their suggestions regarding the working of the department besides highlighting various issues regarding power infrastructure in their respected areas.The Committee informed that the installation capacity of infrastructure is less in winter season because of excessive over loading and less installation capacity.The Committee informed that the work on two Power Projects of Alastang 320 MW and Budgam 160 MW have been completed almost 85 percent and the concerned authorities assured the Committee that within coming 8 to 9 months remaining works would be completed to augment the power scenario in the state.The Committee asked the concerned officers to expedite the ongoing work on Jammu based power projects so that the work could be completed as early as possible.
While discussing the acute shortage of power supply in Shopian district, the Committee was informed that Shopian gets power supply from Grid Station Mir Bazar but due to damage to connectivity tower, the supply was stopped. However, at present Shopian is receiving power supply from Pampore Grid Station due to which said power crisis has erupted.The Committee impressed upon the department to restore the said line at the earliest. In this regard, the department assured the Committee that the said Tower will be restored within next 20 days.It was also informed that two Grid Stations are being constructed at Leh and Kargil which will also receive the power line from the Alastang Power Station.The Committee also directed the concerned authorities to redress the issues of those people who are being affected due to execution of all power projects.The Committee also directed the concerned to focus on power related issues of Zanskar region which is facing a lot of hardships in this regard. Commissioner Secretary, PDD Hirdesh Kumar Singh, Managing Director, JKPDC Dr Shah Faesal, DCP, JKPDD, Asgar Ali Majaz, Secretary (Tech), JKPDD, Sheikh Gul Ayaz, Chief Engineer , (C&S) PDD, S K Kaul, CE, S&O, Jammu, S K Zutshi, Director, (Planning), PDD, Rakesh Jamwal , Director, Finance PDD, Mahesh Dass, Director Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, O P Sharma, SEs besides senior officers of concerned department attended the meeting.