Offers 65% subsidy on rooftop solar, 80% on water pumps

INAM UL HAQ

Srinagar, May 17: Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta Wednesday inaugurated a week-long mega Solar Expo at Kashmir Haat, Exhibition Ground here.

The expo being held from May 17 to May 23 is being organized by J&K Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) in collaboration with multiple vendors of the renewable energy industry and other line departments of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mehta appreciated JAKEDA for organizing the expo saying that the initiative will immensely help in raising awareness among the people about the benefits of rooftop solar plants and other beneficiary-oriented schemes.

He asked JAKEDA to organize more such awareness camps and expos across other parts of the UT so that people there would know about rooftop solar plant, KUSUM scheme and its financing pattern and benefits.

The Chief Secretary said that renewable sources of energy holds the future and government envisions a future with reduced dependence on fossil fuel by promoting renewable energy sources. He also noted that besides reducing carbon emissions, the generation of solar energy through rooftop solar programme would also offset power requirements of domestic consumers in J&K there by aiding our Power Discoms to provide quality power to rest of the consumers.

He maintained that these are the major initiatives aimed at reducing the dependence of people over fossil fuels for energy. He observed that ultimately the future belongs to renewable energy. He further gave out that the energy besides clean and less hazardous is cost-effective for the people. He encouraged them to readily adopt this futuristic technology for both their domestic and agricultural purposes in order to save their resources and environment as well.

Solar Expo at Kashmir Haat. On the occasion, the Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology, Saurabh Bhagat remarked that the department is making concerted efforts to promote both schemes. He made out that Under Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, GoI’s Schemes, domestic electricity consumers across the UT can install Rooftop Solar PV Plants for electricity purpose and can also avail the benefit of installation of solar-powered pumps under PM-KUSUM in order to fulfil their irrigation needs.

Moreover it was made out that under this Rooftop Solar scheme, subsidy upto 65% is being provided to consumers for installing Solar Photovoltaic rooftops. The solar rooftops are available from 1 KW to 10 KW capacity and five years free maintenance is also provided to the consumers.

About the PM-KUSUM, it was said that the same was launched by the Government of India to increase the income of farmers and provide sources for irrigation for the upliftment of agricultural sector. It was also added that the government entails to provide maximum benefit to farmers from this beneficiary oriented scheme.

The scheme allows the farmers to install subsidized Solar Powered Pumps upto 10 HP capacity for irrigation purposes with a choice of AC/DC surface and submersible pumps. Under the KUSUM scheme, the Central and the UT government provides a subsidy of upto 80% while as the beneficiary/farmer has to bear only 20% cost of the machinery to avail the benefit of the scheme.

BK News

Jammu, Jan 24: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Sunday chaired a meeting with the experts from the power sector and officers of J&K Power Distribution Corporation here at Raj Bhavan.

Today’s meeting was the second in a week to assess and analyse the power scenario in the UT and propose solutions for creating a robust power supply system in J&K.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department and Information Department; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Raja Yaqoob Farooq, MD JKPDCL and Chief Engineers attended the meeting.

Chairperson, Board of Directors, IIT Bhubaneswar and former Chairman and MD PGCIL, Dr Rajendra Prasad Singh led the team of experts from the power sector.

A detailed presentation on “Path to a Healthy and Resilient Power Supply system in Jammu” was given by Former Director General, NPTI and ED Power Grid Corporation, Dr NS Saxena.

While discussing the issues related to streamlining the power supply system, the Lt Governor laid special emphasis on using the latest technologies and models for distribution and link strengthening in critical areas.

The Lt Governor directed the concerned officers of JKPDD and JKPDC to work on war footing to identify critical issues, their probable causes and likely mitigations in order to further improve the scenario of power supply system in J&K. “Things have improved for better but it needs to be made the best,” observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor also reviewed the implementation of directions and suggestions made during the previous meeting.

A threadbare discussion was held on various power-related issues and short-term solutions were proposed for transformer and link strengthening, augmentation of transmission and distribution system, and future course of action, besides the identification of issues like pilferage, overloading, ageing of transformers and their impact on the power supply.

The Lt Governor was also briefed about the series of discussions and meetings held between the team of experts with JKPDD and JKPDC officials after the last meeting held on 20th January 2021.

Recommendations were made for focusing on immediate and short-term plans to strengthen the infrastructure to ensure improved power supply status in Jammu region to cater to peak load surge during coming summer, besides identification and aligning on critical gaps.

The chair was further informed about the extensive exploratory meetings and surveys done with the local teams on transmission sites and distribution issues.

It was informed that system strengthening is in progress under various schemes of the Government under which several 33/11 KV substations are being erected for better power supply to various under-serviced areas.

LG Sinha announces decision, says it will make J&K power surplus

BK News

Jammu/Srinagar, Jan 20: Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved Rs 5282 crore investment for 850MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project (HEP) on River Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.

The Ratle HEP will be constructed by a joint venture company incorporated between NHPC and JKSPDC with equity contributions of 51% and 49% respectively, according to a statement by the Government of India.

Later on the day, Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Kumar Sinha held a press conference in Jammu to announce the Union Cabinet’s decision.

The LG, according to J&K Government statement, termed it a historical decision for making J&K power surplus UT.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the HEP and ensuring the development of Jammu & Kashmir.

He blamed the previous governments for what he called their lackluster approach towards the execution of the project.

Lt Governor said that Jammu & Kashmir was deprived of this mega project for so long because “the previous regimes were scared to move ahead” due to Pakistan’s threats of going to International court for arbitration, and making representation in the World Bank.

“But, today the nation is under the strong and decisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is taking bold decisions for the welfare of the people of J&K and has ensured that this project sees the light of the day, besides also providing Equity contribution support to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” the LG said.

“J&K is witnessing unprecedented growth and development in every sector; we are unlocking J&K’s potential to be self-reliant in the energy sector within a short span of time.”

Highlights Rs 5282 cr investment for 850MW Ratle HEP

Highlighting the key features of the mega project, the Lt Governor said that apart from making J&K energy sufficient, the 850MW Ratle HEPwill create 4000 jobs in J&K, directly & indirectly, and will contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the UT. In addition, the Kwar project (540 MW) has been decided to be taken up. This will result in an investment of Rs.4,264 Crores and create more than 2000 jobs in the UT, he added.

The Lt Governor observed that four more projects (Kirthai-II (930MW), Sawalkot (1,856MW), Uri-I (Stage-II) (240MW), and Dulhasti (Stage-II) (258MW) involving an investment of Rs.31,000 Cr have also been decided to be taken up for construction.  These projects together with the two ongoing projects of Pakaldul (1000 MW) and Kiru (624MW) on Chenab river and its tributaries will result in an investment of about Rs.52,821 Crores and create more than 12000 jobs in the Union Territory.

To train the local people, the Ministry of Power / Ministry of Skill Development proposes to set up training centres near the project sites in collaboration with NHPC Ltd, so that they can be employed in the projects, observed the Lt Governor.

The government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing a grant of Rs 776.44 crore for the Equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for the construction of the Ratle HEP (850 MW). NHPC will invest its equity Rs 808.14 crore from its internal resources.

Ratle HEP will be commissioned within a span of 60 months. The Power generated from the project will help in providing balancing of Grid and will improve the power supply position.

J&K Government will extend the exemption from levy of Water Usage Charges for 10 years after commissioning of the project, reimbursement of State’s share of GST (i.e. SGST), and waiver of free power to the State in a decremental manner, i.e., the free power to the State would be 1% in the first year after COD and rising at1% per year to 12% in the 12th year.

The construction activities of the Project will result in direct and indirect employment to around 4000 persons and will contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Further, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be benefitted from free power of around Rs 5289 crore and Rs 9581 crore with Water Usage Charges from Ratle Hydro Electric Project, during the project life cycle of 40 years.

Prominent among others, present on the occasion were BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, and Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, and Information Department, besides senior officers of Civil Administration.