Advisor Sharma for sustained efforts to tap hydro-electric resources

Srinagar: Advisor to Governor KK Sharma Wednesday called for making sustained efforts to fully tap the hydro-electric and other power generating sources to make the State self-sufficient in power generation.
He said such steps would open up employment opportunities and also address the power deficit of the State.
The Advisor was speaking at the Seventh (7th) meeting of Management and Finance Sub-Committee of Jammu Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) here Wednesday.
During the meeting, the MD, JKSPDC informed about the various ongoing projects and the PDC’s future road map.
The Advisor underscored the importance of all identified objectives being achieved within envisaged time frames for the development of hydropower in the state, keeping in view the immense potential of this sector. He asked the Managing Director to urgently identify project-wise critical issues and personally ensure strict adherence to the timelines of each project to avoid the cost escalation and generation loss due to the traditional recurring delays in project execution.
The Advisor noted that the hydropower potential of J&K, if exploited to its fullest, shall enable all-round socio-economic growth and development and enhancement of the economy.
The Advisor directed that the Committee meetings should be held at regular intervals to ensure timely decisions and to accelerate the progress of project implementation.
He asked the Managing Director PDC to ensure that the Corporation’s internal systems is strengthened and streamlined to ensure the timely approval of various power projects and the effective management of every Contract.
While discussing the issue of sale of power by JKSPDC, he impressed upon the Corporation to develop in-house robust system to manage the intricacies of trading of power.
During a threadbare discussion about works program of new and ongoing power projects, the Advisor emphasized to scientifically and professionally manage fund flows of the Corporation. The progress and pace of implementation of ongoing projects including Parnai HEP, Dah HEP, Hanu HEP and power evacuation system for Dah and Hanu HEPs was reviewed and the Advisor directed to accelerate the pace of implementation of these projects. Works for renovation, modernization and updating and stabilization of projects namely Chenani-I HEP, LJHEP, Ganderbal, USHP-II Kangan, USHP-I Sumbal etc. are also proposed under the works program. It was also stressed that various projects to be taken up under PMDP should be implemented in time-bound manner. Generation from 900MW Baglihar HEP and maintenance work was also discussed.
Managing Director JKSPDC gave a resume of works and operation and maintenance works proposed under the works program of the Corporation for the year 2019-20
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Planning Dev. & Monitoring Department, Rohit Kansal,; Commissioner Secretary Power Development Department/Managing Director JKSPDC Hirdesh Kumar Singh; Executive Director (Electric) P.R. Angurala; Executive Director (Civil) Mir Mohammad Shahnawaz; and Company Secretary, JKSPDC, Sunil Gupta. Till now, 25000 patients have availed benefits of free medical treatment under Ayushman Bharat