Electricity to be provided in every habitation of JK: Azad

Jammu, May 15 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said efforts to provide electricity to every habitation of the state are on.

Chairing the 46th meeting of the board of Directors of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation, the Chief Minister said this goal will be achieved under the Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) and other centrally sponsored schemes.

''To achieve self-sufficiency in power generation, a viable and vibrant hydel policy is imperative,'' he said adding that the introduction of triple shifts in the execution of the ongoing hydel power projects was essential, not only for completing them within a prescribed time-frame but also to eliminate cost escalation.

Mr Azad said power projects under the Independent Power Project (IPP) Scheme and Mini and Micro Hydel Electric Schemes must be undertaken under joint a venture by involving the private sector.

''The power projects under RGGVY and other schemes should be framed only after proper survey and keeping in view the allocations to achieve tangible results,'' he said.

He said to get allocations enhanced under RGGVY, he would take the matter up with the Union Ministry of Power and also with Primer Minister Manmohan Singh.

The meeting, it was informed that under RGGVY, Rs 48 crore are being spent in Kupwara district and Rs 24 crore in Anantnag district for rural electrification while as five more districts of the state including Baramulla, Pulwama, Rajouri, Poonch and Doda are being covered under RGGVY, for which project reports are in the pipeline.

Under the Yojana, rs 14.54 crore have been earmarked for Baramulla and Rs 19.25 crore for Pulwama districts likewise, Rs 29.61 crore for Rajouri, Rs 17.32 crore for Poonch and Rs 35.30 crore for Doda district.

The meeting was further informed that under the independent Power Project Ccheme (IPP), 18 small hydro electric projects with a total capacity of 97 MW have been sanctioned out of 25 projects proposed by thev state government. These projects, with a capacity ranging from 1.20 MW, up to 15 MW are being constructed in Gulbargh, Mawar, Baniyar, Arin, Aranz, Aroo, Bringi, Bhalla, Alalgard, Chandanwari, Nihama, Girjan Ki Gali, Phagla and Wangat.

The meeting also took some decisions regarding the formulation of a new hydel policy so as to expedite the execution of power projects under the IPP scheme, involvement of private sector joint venture scheme under rggvy for rural electrification and creation of sub-divisions under the yojana.

The meeting also deliberated upon the working of the Power Development Corporation and discussed various issues regarding power generation, transmission and maintenance besides strengthening the corporation by way of providing necessary staff and infrastrucutre.

The meeting also reviewed the renovation and modernisation of lower Jehlum, upper Sidh, Chenani, Mahore and Ganderbal Power Projects.

Minister for Power Niwang Rigzin Jora, Chief Secretary C Phunsog, Principal Secretary Power Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Planning S S Kapoor, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Anil Goswami and Commissioner/Secretary Finance B B Vyas attended the meeting.

UNI