Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Minister of State for Science and Technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan, today called on Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and discussed the progress of renewable energy programmes being implemented in the Jammu and Kashmir.
Feroz apprised the Union Minister that Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JKEDA) has electrified 244 villages and 15 hamlets in the State by distributing solar home lights in all the households of these villages.
The Minister further informed the Union Minister that the agency has recently been given mandate to construct 2 MW capacity Mini/Micro Hydel Projects in the State. In this regard, the agency has completed the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of 68 sites including 31 in Jammu and 37 in Kashmir divisions, having an aggregate potential of 107.4 MWs.
The Minister said that after preparation of the Mini Projects, 16 sites having an approximate capacity of 26 MWs will be allotted the work on turnkey basis through IPP mode in the current financial year. He said that the DPRs for other 58 sites in the State are also under consideration.
The Minister also projected demands to the Union Minister like providing of 26000 solar home lights for 24 villages and 274 hamlets under Remote Village Electrification (RVE) Programme, 40,000 solar home lights for general public of the State and 11000 solar lights for far flung areas besides solar street lights for Gurez & Teetwal areas and 10,000 solar lanterns for remote areas having the population of Gujjars in the State.
Feroz elaborated the role of renewable energy in providing energy access to these rural communities and said that it could be the biggest drive for inclusive growth.
The Minister also strongly supported the need for devising a mechanism for unrestricted flow of renewable energy technologies saying that these could be better utilized in areas of Leh & Kargil.
Responding to the demands projected by the Minister of State, the Union Minister assured full support in materializing all the projects besides setting up of projects based on both grid connected and off grid connected applications for the State.
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