Advisor (S) reviews functioning of Science & Technology Deptt

Jammu: Advisor to Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma, Wednesday chaired a meeting with senior functionaries of Science and Technology Department and reviewed the working of Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and Jammu and Kashmir Science Technology and Innovation Council (JKST&IC) here at Civil Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, Science & Technology (S&T), Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, Joint Director, S&T, Girdhari Lal Attri, Under Secretary, Ishtiaq Ahmad, CEO, JAKEDA, Dr P R Dhar, Statistical Officer, Ravi Shanker, Executive and Assistant Engineers JAKEDA, Joint Directors, JKST&IC Assistant Director, (P) JAKEDA, AD Finance JAKEDA, besides, AD/District Coordinator, JKST&IC, and other concerned.
The Advisor had a detailed review of the overall functioning and structure of the Science and Technology Department and several initiatives being undertaken by the said department.
While reviewing the working of JAKEDA, the Advisor was briefed about its objectives, State Plan under Capex Budget, Solar initiatives in the State and targets for Grid-connected Solar Sector, Policy on Net-Metered System, fund requirement and etc.
The meeting noted that under Targets for Grid-connected Solar Sector, the state has been allocated a collective target of 1150 MW to be achieved by the end of 2022 out of which 450 MW have to be achieved through Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Power. The MNRE, GoI is providing 70% subsidy to the domestic consumers and institutions registered under Societies Act and maximum of 60% to the Government Institutions-Achievement-Linked Incentive for Government sector.
The Advisor further took a detailed assessment of the RTPV Cost Analysis. It was informed that each 100 MW RTPV installation in the Government sector will result in the generation of 131.4 MU of clean energy per year. It will reduce the technical transmission and distribution losses by 9.89 MU per year and also reduce 3.07 Million Tonnes of CO2 emissions over 25 years.
Regarding the Targets for Grid-connected Solar Sector, it was informed that MNRE has sanctioned 2 MW aggregate capacity of Grid-tied Rooftop Solar Power Plant ranging from 1-500 KW capacity for domestic /institution and government sector which has been completed on time.
During the last few years, JAKEDA has distributed around 91,000 Solar Home Lights and 3,000 Solar Street Lights under Remote Village Electrification (RVE) program in 280 un-electrified villages and 278 un-electrified hamlets of the state besides 30,000 SHLs under JNNSM program in various parts of the State. JAKEDA has also installed and commissioned about 250 off-grid Solar Power Plants ranging from 5-150 KW capacity at various locations including District/ Sub-District Hospitals, Community Information Centers, Educational Institutes and Religious places.
Regarding Mega Size Solar Power Plants, the pre-feasibility analysis shows that the sites at four locations- Nangali, Bhoond, Draman and Hutt in Basholi Tehsil of Kathua District could be developed for setting up of the power projects.
It was further said JAKEDA has identified 13 Small Hydel Projects potential sites having an aggregate capacity of 114.5 MW under Prime Minister’s Development Package.
The Advisor also had a brief overview of the working of Science Technology and Innovation Council (ST&IC) and the projects under implementation including Industrial Biotechnology Parks, Project K-5000 and Science Centers.
It was informed that Industrial Biotechnology Parks are coming up at Braripora in Handwara (Kashmir) and Ghati in Kathua (Jammu) on 10 acres of land each, costing around Rs 84.66 crore with facilities like Micro-Propagation, Instrumentation and Analytical, Business Development of Biotech, Entrepreneurship Development through Enterprise Zone and many alike.
Under Project K-5000, Demonstration Farms OF Medicinal and Aromatic Plants are being established in different villages on 5000 kanals of land over 3 years of time. The main objectives of the project are to create awareness of cultivation and processing of medicinal and aromatic cash crops among the farmers, to provide planting material and infrastructural support for distillation and value-addition to farmers/growers, to promote agri-preneurship, biotech-preneurship in the state.
Further, two Science Centers have been proposed by JK ST&IC.
The Advisor said the Solar Policy in the State is progressing but at the same time, Solar Policies under progressive implementation in other states needs to be looked into so that amendments can be taken up by the concerned authorities to speed up the adoption of solar power in the state. He further asked for the consideration of the revision of Solar Policy applicable for Net Metering.
The officers of the concerned department shall visit the Industrial Biotechnology Park at Lucknow on which the Model for the said parks in the state is being developed.
At the outset, the Secretary, S&T briefed the Advisor about the role assigned to the designated officers of the department and its subordinate offices.