Srinagar, June 11, (Scoop News)- Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who is also Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) Wednesday asked the Corporation to immediately start work for ascertaining feasibility of Baglihar-III utilizing the existing infrastructure so that indigenous power generation receives yet another fillip in the State.
The Chief Minister said that self-reliance in power generation is imperative for laying strong edifice for the State’s economic development and welfare of the people. “This is the sector which promises financial independence and all round development of Jammu and Kashmir”, he said and added that the concentrated focus of his government has been on the holistic development of power sector to achieve tangible results both in the generation and distribution disciplines.
Chairing the 70th meeting of Board of Directors of JKSPDC here this morning, the Chief Minister received brief on the status of various ongoing power development projects as also the current power generation and distribution scenario in the state.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Economic Advisor, Jalil Ahmed Khan, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary, PDD, A. K. Mehta, MD, JKSPDC, Mehraj-ud-Din, Director Finance, Upender jeet Singh, Company Secretary, Sunil Gupta and other officers were present in the meeting.
The meeting approved Rs.3416 crore Budget for the Corporation for the year 2014-15 and took decisions on various agenda items explained in the meeting by the MD in a power point presentation.
While ascertaining the details on the status of various ongoing projects, the Chief Minister was informed that Rs.60,000 crore Baglihar-II HEP is being completed by the end of September-2015 while the work on 93 MW New Ganderbal project will start shortly.
It was observed that during the current year there has been considerable increase in the production of electricity as also in its supply to the consumers. The Chief Minister asked for further efforts to streamline and maintain the power supply to the consumers to the best possible means.
The Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, A. K. Mehta while giving brief on various ongoing mega power projects in the State said that all is set to add another 450 MW of power to the system by completing Baglihar-II by the end of September-2015. He said another 93 MW will be added by the completion of New Ganderbal HEP.
The meeting discussed the issue of regularization of daily rated workers of JKSPDC in the backdrop of the government’s overall policy which is being decided for similarly placed persons of PDD and other departments under the direction of the Chief Minister.
The meeting also discussed matters relating to the execution of Brenwar Stage-II HEP in IPP mode, execution of 100 MW Parkachik-Panikher project on river Suru in Ladakh and 80 MW Shutkari-Kulan on river Sindh by IPPs. Launch of power project on coal block allotted to Jammu and Kashmir, construction of 24 projects under IPP mode, financial closures of 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 37.50 MW Parnai HEP were also discussed in the meeting.
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