Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has passed a Bill laying down that companies running hydro-electric power projects in the state pay for the water they use to generate electricity.

The move, the government said, will earn the state Rs 848 crore a year in additional revenue.

Mushtaq along with his father demonstrates his invention.
Mushtaq along with his father demonstrates his invention. Photo by the writer

Kalakote, June 20

Srinagar: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah has said 20,000 MW will be generated from solar energy in the state in the next 10 years.

He said possibilities to produce more power from water and wind energy to minimise the huge expenditure on the exploitation of conventional sources of energy would also be explored.

In a significant development, Pakistan today withdrew its objection to construction of Uri-II and Chutak hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the Indus Water Commissioner-level talks here, the Pakistani side said it had no objection to the designs of the two power projects after the Indian side provided details of these, official sources told PTI.

The Chandigarh Administration has got 31 MW more power from various sources. From Sunday, the additional power was added to the daily quota of power for consumption by city residents, as promised by the administration to meet the growing demand for electricity.

To offset power demand in summers, the Chandigarh Administration has worked out an exchange model with the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Under an agreement with the Administration, the state would spare 30 Mega Watts (MW) of electricity for the city during summers