Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 8: Minister of State for Science & Technology Mr. Feroz Ahmad Khan today called on Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, to apprise him about the progress on renewable energy programmes being implemented in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Minister informed Dr. Farooq Abdullah that J&K Energy Development Agency has completed many projects sanctioned to the State and sought the pending Central Financial Assistance (CFA) of approximately Rs 53.00 crore from the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy(MNRE). The Minister also sought release of CFA against sanctioned projects of 10000 Solar Home Lights and 1652 KW Solar Power Plants under JNNSM, under which no funds have been released so far by the MNRE. This has resulted into delay in implementation of these projects.
Mr Feroz also projected the demand for providing of one lakh solar home lights for general public of the State, 500 solar street lights for far flung areas of Gurez and solar power backup for 752 Khidmat Centres of the State established through J&K Bank. He emphasized the role of renewable energy in providing energy access to these rural communities and said that it could be a big boost to inclusive growth.
He said the development of renewable energy can substantially help in reducing consumption of kerosene and diesel in the State. MNRE also sanctioned project proposal for providing of “Solar Water Heating Systems” with latest technology at an estimated cost of Rs. 733.00 lakh for Olympic size swimming pool, J&K Sports Council, Rajbagh, Srinagar and advised the implementation of the same through channel partner.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah assured full support of his Ministry in sanctioning all the projects besides setting up of projects based on both grid connected and off grid connected applications. The Minister also strongly supported the need for devising a mechanism for unrestricted flow of renewable energy technologies. The meeting was attended by Taroon Kapoor, Joint Secy., MNRE and various other senior officers of the Ministry.
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