Minister for Power, Sunil Sharma today directed the officers to ensure that concerted efforts are undertaken to harness the power generation capabilities of the state to fullest.The Minister was speaking at a review meeting convened here to discuss the status of power projects in Kupwara District especially the one coming up at Bonar Lolab.MLA, Lolab, Haq Khan, Commissioner/Secretary PDD, Managing Director JKSPDC, Managing Director CVPPL, Development Commissioner Power and other senior officers attended.The Minister while highlighting the tremendous potential of the state for hydroelectric power said that Jammu and Kashmir is replete with the vast sources of water bodies and now the onus lies on us to ensure that they are properly harnessed and tapped so that power deficiency of the state is properly complemented and we become one of the major players in the field.
The Minister also directed the officers to co-ordinate their efforts to ensure that the bottlenecks if any in the implementation are removed so that the work can be fast paced. He said that they should also come up with a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation program for the people whose properties would be acquired and they are provided with adequate compensation and also employed in the upcoming hydroelectric power project.
The meeting was told that the DPR for the project has been prepared by the JKSPDC, which reflects that it will produce 24MW of power and also provide drinking, and irrigation facilities to the people of Lolab valley upto Bandipora and also help in generation of employment to the people of the area and catchments.The minister directed the officers to expedite the tendering process under PMDP, so that people of the area get benefitted. He also asked for fast pacing the work on Karnah and Machhil projects as well.