Asking the officers to speed up the process of implementation of various initiatives in the power sector especially the hydroelectric and solar energy, the Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh today said these initiatives would ensure sufficient amount of electricity is generated and provided to the consumers.The Deputy CM was addressing officers during third meeting of Management and Finance Sub-Committee of Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).Commissioner Secretary Finance Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary to CM, Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary PDD Dheeraj Gupta, Managing Director JKSPDC Shah Faesal and other senior officers were present in the meeting.Dr Singh said that the government has undertaken a multi-pronged strategy to ensure more generation of power besides, reducing the transmission and distribution losses. He said the officers of various departments should work in coordination to ensure timely completion of various projects undertaken in the hydroelectric sector.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that adequate funds have been provided under the Prime Minister’s Development Package to ensure augmentation and upgradation of the power sector in the State and we have to ensure that these funds are judiciously used.The meeting also discussed the issue of expediting hydropower projects in the state and also came up with various suggestions and measures regarding the same.The meeting also discussed the implementation of 14 small hydroelectric projects being implemented in the State under PMDP and it was decided that the detailed project report of these projects is being prepared. The issue of awarding consultancy contract for providing comprehensive contract management services for 93 MW New Ganderbal hydroelectric project was also discussed.The issue of setting up of solar power plants by JKSPDC in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA), Leh and Kargil Energy Development Agencies (LAREDA, KREDA) was also discussed and it was given out that the State has an estimated solar power potential of 111.05 GW which needs to be tapped so that the power supply is properly augmented.The meeting also discussed various issues including the human resource issues of the corporation.