Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Government is setting up six mini-hydel projects with a total capacity of 12 MWs in mountainous Kishtwar district under IPP mode.
Minister of State for R&B Sunil Sharma and Member Legislative Council Firdous Tak called on Minister of Animal Husbandry and Science and Technology Sajad Gani Lone, here at his official residence, to express their gratitude for expediting the process for setting up the six hydel projects approved by the State. Chief Executive Officer JAKEDA Shafat Sultan was also present in the meeting.
The projects are being set up at Inderwal, Godana, Kanoor, Naigarh, Nantoo, Mullar, Dadpath, Chatroo and Afani with aggregated capacity of 2 MWs. The projects will be set up on Independent Power Producer (IPP) mode for a period of 40 years. The bidding has been based on “Policy for Development of Micro / Mini Hydro Power Projects”.
Mr Lone said that the present Government headed by the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is committed for harnessing the hydel potential of Jammu and Kashmir. “We have tremendous scope of both hydel as well as solar energy but unfortunately nothing much has been done in the past from the Science and Technology Department”, he said adding that his department is finalizing a proposal where the IPP mode will be made more flexible so as to provide an opportunity to unemployed youth to invest in the power sector.
He said that the process for allotting the works of six hydle power projects in Kishtwar district has been started through competitive bidding, adding that JAKEDA has been asked to expedite the matter and ensure that the process is completed at the earliest. He said that his ministry would be encouraging mini- and medium-hydroelectric power projects as more than 25,000 megawatt power potential was available in J&K.
Mr Sunil and Mr Tak urged the S&T Minister to explore possibility of allotting more hydel projects on same pattern in the district. “There are several areas where the mini hydel projects can be established with minimum investment. This would not only increase the power generation capacity of the State but will also help in economic upliftment of the local population”, they said, adding that under renewable energy the district has the highest potential due to the availability of Government and forest land where the solar plants can be established.
Follow our WhatsApp channel