SRINAGAR: Saying that Hydro Power is a renewable, economic and eco-friendly benign source of energy, the Minister of State for Power Shabir Ahmad Khan reiterated State Government's commitment to make the J&K self-reliant in electricity and to provide hydro energy to other States in future.

Addressing the delegates who participated in 2-day National Hydro-Power Convention held at SKICC, organized by India Tech Foundation on "harnessing hydro-power in Northern Himalayan-challenges and opportunities"

KISHTWAR: About 274 families in Darbshalla area in Inderwal Constituency of Kishtwar district are running from pillar to post for payment of compensation of 1100 kanals of cultivable land which has been occupied by the PDC for the construction of 850 mw Rattle Hydro Power Project.

The Project has been allotted to GVK Ltd an Andhra Pradesh based firm and the company has started work on the construction of project but the land owners are without compensation till date said, Shakti Parihar, BJP State Executive Member and a local leader of the area.

* Calls for review of Central power sharing formula

SRINAGAR: Terming imposition of water utilization charges on power generation companies as a right decision of his Government, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that he would like the NHPC to re-look its terms and conditions regarding the implementation of hydro-electric projects by taking a leaf from the agreement the State has entered with the private power company vis-à-vis construction of Rattle Hydroelectric Project.

Combined capacity generation to be 8,000 Mw over the next 10 years

The Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation today said 45 hydro power projects in the state to be implented will take the combined capacity generation to 8,000 MW over the next 10 years. "There are 45 projects in the state which are to be implemented and their capacity will be 8,298.85 megawatts," Basharat Ahmad Dhar, the managing director of J&K Power Development Corporation told reporters here on the eve of seventh Hydro Power Convention which begins tomorrow.

Replying to the queries of the Probationers on a wide range of subjects, the Governor observed that the unfortunate situation that prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir in the past years resulted not only in huge human and economic losses but also caused a severe damage to forest wealth.

He said that with the return of normalcy, greater attention is now being devoted to the conservation and regeneration of forests in the State. The Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, referred to the initiatives being taken by the Board for the conservation and promotion of green cover in the entire Shrine area in the Trikuta Hills.

SRINAGAR: Additional Secretary of Union Ministry of Power Davinder Choudhary convened a high level meeting of officers of NHPC, JKPDC and civil administration of the State here today to discuss execution of Hydro Electric Projects planned during 12th Plan and taken up by various agencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Principal Secretary Power Development Department Sudanshu Panday, Managing Director JKPDC Basharat Ahmad Dhar, Secretary in Power Development Department, Secretary Technical Education, Chief Engineer PDD and Senior Officers of NHPC, JKPDC attended the meeting.

Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah today inaugurated 18 KW Solar Power Plant at Sub-District Hospital Charar-i-Sharief.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has approved 69 solar power plants for the State to be installed in as many health institutions as backup power supply units. This involves an amount of Rs. 32.70 crore. The tenders for 32 such units have been finalized and for the remaining the process is going on.

SRINAGAR: An amount of Rs. 318 crore has been spent under MGNREGA in Kashmir Division by completing 25142 works and generating 160 lakh mandays.

The information was given in a high level meeting convened under the chairmanship of the Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar here today.

Various schemes for J&K in pipeline: Farooq

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Monday highlighted the importance of harnessing new and renewable energy potential of the State to accommodate the electricity needs in remote and far-flung areas emphasizing on installation of adequate Transmission System (TS) to extract and distribute power.

SRINAGAR: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi-ud-Din alongwith Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohammad Sagar today inaugurated the augmentation of water supply from Rangil plant to fort area at Pokhribal water treatment plant which has come at a cost of Rs. 42 crore.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. Taj said that Government during the last three years has done enough to conserve and protect the water resources of the State.