The Department of Science and Technology of the Central government, under the Integrated Rural Energy Planning Programme (IREP), has taken over the maintenance of nearly 1,000 micro hydel projects abandoned across the state. Around 900 of these are totally defunct.

Demanding renegotiation of pacts with the National Hydro Project Corporation (NHPC),the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today observed that the scrapping of this agreement was important to make the state economically self-reliant.

While the Kashmir valley is facing power shortage, the government plans to launch a vigorous campaign to check the loss of electricity ahead of winter coupled with lesser generation of power from hydel projects due to a decline in the water level.

Three public sector companies are planning to set up 60-80 megawatt solar plants with an investment of Rs 1,000-1,200 crore. The projects will come up in Rajasthan, Punjab and the Leh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Being built at an estimated cost of Rs 611 crore, the 45-MW Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project in Leh district of the frontier cold desert region of Ladakh is scheduled to be completed by August next year.

Jammu: Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjit Singh Slathia has said that the Centre had approved a package of Rs 5500 crore for the development of three regions of the state.

BANIHAL: Resentment is brewing among locals in Banihal against the inability of the Systems and Operations wing of Power Development Department (PDD) Kashmir to successfully commission 50 megawatt grid station at Banihal in district Ramban
PDD officials maintain that the grid station developed a serious technical snag before its scheduled date of commissioning

Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: Faced with a 200-MW shortfall and with no relief in sight from the Damodar Valley Corporation that had assured of providing 400 MW of power, Delhi has now turned to Jammu and Kashmir for help.

Jammu: Mature wheat crop on at least 139 kanals was damaged in fire caused due to an alleged short-circuit in power transmission wires in the border area of Badyal Brahmna, around 4 km from RS Pura, this evening.

Three incidents of devastating fire in different villages of RS Pura and Vijaypur have already damaged mature wheat crop on nearly 233 kanals this week.

Udhampur: Charging the ruling NC for bartering away natural resources of the state for lust of power, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has called for re-negotiation of power sharing agreements with the NHPC.