Govt has failed to harness solar power potential: Ashraf Mir

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) leader and former minister Mohammad Ashraf Mir on Wednesday censured the J&K government for not harnessing the solar power potential in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a gathering at the Party office in Lal Chowk, Mir observed that the dismal performance exhibited by the J&K government in tapping the solar power potential is mainly because of its inability to remove the administrative bottlenecks. “J&K has a topographical advantage and that is why it has the second largest solar power potential in the country. But it is highly unfortunate that the J&K government has so far failed to focus on this important sector leaving the people deprived of its benefits,” the JKAP leader remarked. He stressed on the need for strict implementation of the schemes of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in order to harness the solar power potential in J&K which as per experts is estimated to be 111.05 Giga Watt, second highest after Rajasthan in the country.
Mir also demanded that the electricity charges on all commercial and other business establishments should be waived off because of the situation since August last year in J&K. He said the government should also go for an electricity fee waiver for all BPL and economically downtrodden families in J&K as they have not been able to earn their livelihood since August last year. “There has been almost no trade or business activity in any of the economic sectors since August 2019. The COVID lockdown further crippled the shopkeepers, traders, businessmen having small, medium or large commercial units in J&K. So the government should understand their difficulties and waive off the electricity and water usage charges on all commercial establishments across J&K,” he demanded.
On this occasion, Mohsin Hassan Malik, a scholar in commerce subject from Langate Handwara joined the party in presence of party leaders Ghulam Hassan Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Sheikh Noor Mohammad, Syed Farooq Andrabi, Muntazir Mohi-u-Din, Irfan Naqeeb, Aijaz Ahmad Rather and Jeelani Kumar.
A post graduate in commerce Malik has qualified the National Eligibility Test and has a vast experience in imparting education in many colleges. Hailing the services rendered by Malik, for the non-affluent and downtrodden people, Ghulam Hassan Mir stated that Malik has been among the prominent young faces who not only worked for the education in his area but has contributed immensely in public welfare measures.
The party leaders welcomed him to the party fold saying that his joining will strengthen the party base in district Kupwara. On his joining Malik stated that the issues being confronted by the people of Jammu and Kashmir are immense and that it is the JKAP’s pragmatic approach to politics that alone can face these challenges and end the sufferings of people. Besides Malik, around 20 prominent citizens from Chattabal-Batamaloo constituency joined the party in presence of the party leadership.