Despite immense potential for renewable energy projects our state is fairly untapped in terms of energy utilization. Although Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy is said to be devising master plans for bringing renewable energy projects to J&K where the demand for electricity is increasing with each passing day, things have not moved fairly fast. State is yet to receive promised 90 per cent assistance for installing solar water heating projects. The promised scheme of seven per cent subsidy on the interest on the loan to be provided by the MNRE, too, is still a far of cry. There appears no relent in pressure for electric power in the state. The Union Minister said the state has a good number of streams and brooks on which small hydro power projects up to 25 MWs would be sanctioned and financed by the MNRE on 90:10 ratios. This remains untouched. Harnessing of wind, sunlight, bio-gas and other sources of renewable energy have yet to make impact in the State. The State needs speedy development of alternative sources of energy in the wake of acute power shortage.
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