Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 6: Minister of State for Power Asiea Naqash today claimed that Government has set the target of electrifying all un-electrified villages in the State by the end of 2018-19.
Replying to a question of BJP member Ashok Khajuria in the Upper House today, the Minister informed that as per census 2011, the total un-electrified villages in the State are 102, of which 26 fall in Kashmir, 58 in Jammu and 18 in Ladakh.
She further informed that these villages have been covered for electrification under DDUGJY/RGGVY Scheme and 22 un-electrified villages stand electrified.
She said that the Centre has approved an amount of Rs 616.59 crore for 10 districts of Jammu, 9 districts of Kashmir and 2 districts of Ladakh region under DDUGJY scheme. The Government also launched R-APDRP for renovation and up-gradation of sub-transmission and distribution network besides adoption of IT applications for meter reading, billing and energy accounting, she added.
She also assured to Khajuria to generate hydel power in remote Zanskar area of Kargil in near future.
Legislators Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Sofi Yousuf and Surinder Kumar Choudhary raised the supplementary question on the main question.
Replying to a separate question of Dr Shehnaz Ganai raised by Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, the Minister informed that the Government has engaged a consultant for preparation of DPR for 16 MW Phagla HEP taken up under PMDP.
She informed that 12.5 MW Mandi SHEP is under construction in IPP mode, while as DPR for 10 MW Small Hydro Power (SEP) Project Gagarain, Poonch has been prepared by JAKEDA.
She informed that 15,762 households were electrified in Kashmir province under DDUGJY in 2017-18 while 20,409 households were electrified in Jammu province during 2016-17.
The Minister also informed about the status of construction of 132 KV Draba line and the power transmission line being erected under northern region strengthening scheme from Jalandhar to Amargarh via Samba, Akhnoor, Rajouri Shopian and Baramulla.
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