Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh today said the government is committed to ensure that every household in the state is provided with power supply and in this regard, the left out 102 villages have been electrified keeping in view the commitment made by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.The Deputy CM was interacting with a section of media to announce electrification of 102 unelectrified villages of the state spread over eight districts including Reasi, Rajouri, Ramban, Kishtwar, Kupwara, Bandipora, Leh and Kargil. The work has been executed by Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department in 84 villages whereas PGCIL in 18 villages for which the total cost has been Rs 98.29 crore.He said that the efforts by the Ministry of Defence deserves special mention as it provided 19 special sorties to drop the material for the 53 off grid villages in Leh, Kargil and Kishtwar.He also thanked Union Ministry of Power for supporting the endeavors of the state by approving a separate proposal amounting to Rs 63.66 crore for undertaking 53 unelectrified villages on the off grid solar mode.
He informed that JKSPDC was appointed as project implementing agency and REC PDCL as Project Management Agency and the work was done with active collaboration of IIT Chennai.Dr Singh further said the government is taking all the necessary measures to ensure that the initiatives taken in the power sector are completed within the stipulated time. He said that the necessary mechanism has already been put in place to ensure 24x7 uninterrupted power supply to the people.The Deputy CM further said that every possible effort would be made to ensure that the scheme SAUBHAGYA, aimed at providing electric connections to the households would be completed before its targeted time.He said that the mechanism has been put in place which would be ensuring that it is completed fully in the state by December 2018 instead of the targeted 2019.