As part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', the District Administration Kupwara along with Ministry of Power in association with Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Kupwara and NHPC today organised a grand function at Government Degree College (GDC), Kupwara to celebrate the Bijli Mahotsav under the umbrella of 'Ujjwal Bharat Ujjwal Bhavishya': Power@2047.
Despite incessant rains in Kupwara, a large number of people attended the celebration enthusiastically. The programme started with lighting of the ceremonial lamp by B K Chaudhary GSM NHPC KGPS Bandipora in presence of elected members of District Development Council members Sona-u-llah Khan, DDC Hyhamma, Gh. Mustafa Rahi, DDC Kalaroose, Khursheed Ahmad, DDC Mawer, Adv Zahoor Ahmad, DDC Natnussa, Mir Suliman DDC Rajwar, Showkat Pandith, BDC Langate, Mohd Abdullah BDC Trehgam, Ghulam Rasool BDC Machil, Ali Mohammad Sheikh BDC Hyhamma, Shaheena ji BDC Dragmulla and Nageena Begum BDC Sogam.Mumtaz Ahmad Chowdary (Superintending Engineer, O&M, North Circle Sopore), Shamim Ahmad (Executive Engineer, ED Kupwara/ Handwara), Vishal Anand (GM NHPC KGPS Bandipora) and Nawneet Kumar (AM ELectrical, NHPC KGPS Bandipora) other officials of PDD and NHPC besides students and beneficiaries were also present at the occasion.
The DDC Members Hyhamma and Rajwar; BDC Chairpersons Machil and Trehgam; GM NHPC highlighted the key achievements in the power sector in the rural and urban areas. They said the purpose of organising the programme was to showcase the major achievements of ministry of power over the last few years in Village electrification, household connectivity and other power up-gradation milestones that have been achieved in the rural electrification in remotest areas of J&K be it Machil or Keran or Jumagund or Budnamal or Gratnard/Bratnard under various CSSs of DDUGJY and Saubhagya.
The contribution of the District Development Commissioner, Kupwara Khalid Jahangir in the execution of centrally sponsored schemes like Saubhagya, DDUGJY, PMDP, IPDS and RAPDRP was highlighted during the program. With the great efforts of worthy DDC, Kupwara, it was ensured that the last mile connectivity of electricity under various schemes was achieved despite hilly and difficult terrain with limited working season in District Kupwara.With the implementation of these schemes the power scenario has made a paradigm shift in urban as well as in rural areas of the district. It is worthwhile to mention that under the Saubhagya Scheme an amount of Rs. 85.00 Crores was utilized in District Kupwara wherein 429 No. of Distribution Transformers were installed with about 1225 CKms of HT/LT lines were laid.
The un-electrified areas that were covered under the Scheme are Glassdagi Manigah, Jumagund, Machil, Gratnard, Bratnard, Safawali, Hajinard, Amrohie, Prada, Seemari Teetwal, etc. The works executed under DDUGJY (UEV) amounts to Rs. 7.80 Crores wherein 24 No. of Distribution Transformers were installed along with 93.00 Kms of HT/LT network. The beneficiaries benefitted under Saubhagya and DDUGJY Scheme sums to 8320.Speaking on the occasion, Executive Engineer Shamim Ahmad urged the people to keep check on power theft and make its judicious use.
He particularly highlighted the role of women folk in energy conservation.An array of cultural items and NukKad Natak themed around the saving of electricity was presented by school students on the occasion and the Videos depicting different topics were shown during the program. These topics include Distribution Sector Strengthening, One Nation One Grid, PM Kusum, Power Surplus, Rights of Consumer, Saubhagya and Village Electrification. On the occasion, 5 beneficiaries were provided energy saving devices and 45 children from different schools were felicitated with gifts for their best performance.The programme ended with Vote of thanks by Executive Engineer KPDCL Kupwara.