Perspective power plan for Jammu & Kashmir

by Vijay Kumar
November 30, 2009

Jammu,November 30 (Vijay Kumar) – Indian Union Power Secretary, H. S. Brahma has asked the State Government to formulate a perspective power generation and transmission plan for meeting the power needs of the next 20 years with stress on time bound execution. He also called for switching over to energy efficiency norms to conserve electricity.

Speaking at a high-level meeting to review the progress of various power projects in the State here today, Mr. Brahma asked the State Power Development Department to complete all the formalities for allotment of 64 new hydel power projects to executing agencies by the end of next month.

The State Government has identified about 310 hydro-electric projects across the State to tap its vast power potential, out of which 64 power projects will be taken up in the first phase. The power projects of above 200 MW capacity are being allotted to NHPC whereas mini hydel power projects of less than 200 MW capacity would be executed through Institutional Power Promoters (IPP) and local companies.

Mr. Brahma stressed on introducing energy efficient devices in all the Government owned buildings in the first phase, adding that guidance of Bureau of Energy Efficiency could be sought for the purpose. He also directed to accelerate laying of transmission lines, adding that laying of Srinagar-Leh transmission line, vital for supply of power in remote areas of Leh and Kargil districts, should be completed on priority.

Mr. Brahma urged for handing over two more Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to NHPC for capacity building and said that this would help in running the power projects efficiently. Two ITIs, one each at Reasi and Leh, have already been adopted by NHPC. He also urged for tapping solar energy in a big way to meet the energy requirements of the State, adding that there should be a proper monitoring mechanism to oversee execution of various power projects in the State. He said the Central team would again visit J&K in January 2010 to review various ongoing power projects.

Progress on power projects and allied works under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and APDP also came up for discussion.

Chairman, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Rakesh Nath, Member CEA, S. Gurdial Singh, Joint Adviser Planning Commission, R. K. Koul, Commissioner/Secretary Power, J&K, B. R. Sharma, Deputy Secretary Union Ministry of Finance. Neeher Ranjan Pandey and Power Development Commissioner, J&K were also present in the meeting.