Feroz reviews functioning of JAKEDA, ‘Stresses for harnessing NRE for benefits of people’

  

BEIGH SHAMIM AHMED:- JUNE 20:- The Minister of State for Science Technology and Information Technology Mr. Feroz Ahmad Khan has asked the JAKEDA authorities to gear up the field functionaries to ensure that the people of the State get optimum benefits of the schemes launched by the central and state governments under New and Renewable Energy Department.These instructions were given by the Minister while chairing a meeting of JAKEDA convened to review the functioning of the agency and the status of 6 Mini and Micro Hydel Power Projects having a cumulative capacity of 9.95 MW here today. These projects have already been taken up on IPP mode in the first phase.The Minister asked the concerned to follow the method of identification and distribution strictly as per the norms set by the Department of Science and Technology and ensure that the deserving beneficiaries get benefitted. He also instructed them for timely distribution of the procured solar systems to avoid there any damage. Mr. Feroz also asked the authorities of JAKEDA to submit the list of installed Solar Power Plants, new identified sites for construction Mini and Micro Hydel Power Projects to the Science and Technology Department for further course of action.The meeting was informed that the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has sanction installation of 20,000 No of Solar Photo Voltic (SPV), Home Lighting System under General Category for Jammu & Kashmir with a central financial assistance of 30 per cent , 20 per cent under state plan and balance 50 percent by the beneficiaries. The purchase committee has approved Rs. 10,880 per Solar Home Light, the meeting was informed.As many as 19,825 systems have been distributed among the beneficiaries of 20 districts of the state against the target of 20,000 under general category, the meeting was informed.  The meeting further informed that the MNRE has sanctioned 15,150 Solar Lanterns (SL) for remote Gujjar & Bakerwal basti at a project cost of Rs. 5.30 crore with Central Financial Assistance of Rs. 4.55 crore. As many as 6910 SL have been distributed among the beneficiaries against the target of 7865 in Kashmir Province and 6704 SL against 7285 in Jammu Province among Gujjar and Bakerwal beneficiaries, the meeting was informed.The meeting was further informed that MNRE has sanctioned 50, 377  Solar Home Lighting Systems for 225 un-electrified villages and hamlets of the State, besides additional quantity of 2055 Solar Hole Lighting System for left out households of Gurez and 927 for Marwah area, adding that 37,700 SHLs have been procured at a cost of Rs 41.02 crore after obtaining beneficiary lists from the concerned district administrations.Among others Commissioner Secretary Science Technology and Information Technology Mr. Bipul Pathak, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Hafizullah, besides district officers of JAKEDA and Science and Technology departments attended the meeting.