Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 15: Union Minister of State with independent charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal today promised all help from Central Government to Jammu & Kashmir for expeditious development of conventional and non-conventional energy sources in the State.
“Power Minister Piyush Goyal assured all help from Central Government for expeditious development of conventional and non-conventional energy sources of Jammu & Kashmir,” the Union Power Ministry said in a statement.
Goyal gave this assurance to the Jammu & Kashmir Government during a review meeting of the power sector held today with state officials at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar.
Those who attended the meeting included Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Dr Nirmal Singh, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb A Drabu, Minister for Science & Technology and Animal Husbandry (J&K) Sajjad Gani Lone, and Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Power Development and Housing & Urban Development Mohammad Ashraf Mir and several senior officers of the Union Ministry of power and the State Government.
J&K Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey was also present at the meeting.
During the meeting, a presentation was made by Power Development Department of the State on energy scenario of Jammu & Kashmir.
The Minister also discussed various issues pertaining to power transmission, distribution, generation and renewable energy in the State.
Power Development Department (PDD) is one of the departments of the Jammu & Kashmir Government which is responsible for all functions related to transmission and distribution of electric power in the state.
The power generation sector is looked after by Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), which was carved out of PDD in 1995.
During the meeting, a joint venture agreement between NTPC-JKSPDC was signed for development of thermal power for the state and MoU between J&K government and JKPDD-BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) was signed to bring out energy efficiency in power transmission and distribution in the state.
The Deputy Chief Minter while addressing the meeting raised several issues related to the augmentation of the power sector in the state.
During the meeting , presentation was given by Principal Secretary PDD J&K Government on power scenario of J&K State and discussion were held on various issues pertaining to transmission, distribution generation & renewable energy-solar.
Meanwhile, Goyal called on Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, here this morning.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister told the Union Minister that quality and affordable power to the consumers in the State will be his Government’s top-most priority. He raised the matter of taking effective steps in reducing power distribution and transmission losses, considered to be the weakest link in the power sector.
The Union Minister assured Mufti Sayeed of Centre’s support in reducing transmission and distribution losses through a comprehensive programme of strengthening of the transmission network with a view to ensuring speedy and time-bound implementation of the programme. He requested for nominating a Nodal Officer who will coordinate with the Union Power Ministry on various aspects relating to the transmission system.
Stating that losses caused to J&K on account of Indus Water Treaty are enormous, the Chief Minister called upon fast-tracking of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and R-APDRP, the two Government of India schemes, aimed at providing continuous power supply to all homes in rural and urban areas.
The Chief Minister observed that power sector is a key area which can transform the State and provide fillip to its economic development .
He requested the Union Power Minister to expedite work on the completion of Leh-Kargil-Srinagar Transmission Line, which will go a long way in augmenting power scenario in the State.
On the issue of underground cabling of power lines in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Patnitop, the Union Minister assured the Chief Minister of considering the proposal under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), once a DPR is submitted by the State Government.
For promoting convention tourism in the State, Piyush Goyal also indicated that he will direct PSUs falling within the domain of his Ministry to hold their Board Meetings at the picturesque resort of Gulmarg.
The Union Minister, accompanied by a Central team, will be holding discussions with Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh, who holds the portfolio of Power Development Department, on various aspects related to generation, distribution and transmission so as to realize on ground 24×7 power programme of the Government.
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