Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 26 : The Governor, N N Vohra, has called for urgently removing all existing impediments in effectively harnessing the solar power potential in the State, particularly in the Ladakh region which has the potential to produce 111 GW.
According to press release, he has directed the Chief Secretary to take an urgent meeting to review, with all the stakeholders, and resolve all existing hurdles.
The Governor was reviewing the status of solar power generation and development of related infrastructure which is being carried out in the state by the Science & Technology Department and Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA).
The State of J&K, with its huge tracts of barren lands in Ladakh, has the potential to produce 111 GW of solar power.
The MNRE, Government of India and J&K government have signed an MOU for the development of two mega solar power projects in the Ladakh region of the State (2500 MW in Kargil and 5000 MW in Leh). Most of the energy generated in these solar parks would be evacuated to the Northern Grid through the presently under construction Leh- Srinagar transmission line.
The State Government has devised an incentive package for private power producers including permission to private players to set up solar, hydel, wind and thermal projects of any size in the State, tax holiday for power generation and distribution companies, easy availability of cheap loans, reduction of custom duty for the import of equipments, a favourable debt equity ratio and making competitive bidding mandatory.
The Raj Bhavan spokesperson disclosed that as per the Solar Power Policy approved by the State Cabinet, the grid connected Solar Power Projects are being promoted through IPP mode in the State. The Project Approval Committee has since allotted sites at Chhan Arorian and Logate Morh in Kathua district; and at Meen Chadgan in Samba district for setting up of grid connected SPPs in the State while a few more are in the pipeline.
It was disclosed that MNRE has sanctioned 34,483 Solar Home Lighting Systems (SHLS) and 2,408 Solar Street Lights for 36 un-electrified villages and 263 hamlets of the State. |
