Jammu, Dec 20:
Advisor to Governor, Kewal Kumar Sharma today called for more progressive policy for solar power development in Jammu and Kashmir. The Advisor was speaking at a high-level meeting convened to review the progress towards achieving the targets mandated to the state for the year 2018-19 including aligning the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) by the Ministry of Power for energy consumption from renewable energy resources (solar and non-solar). The meeting was attended by Commissioner/ Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD), Hirdesh Kumar and Secretary, Science & Technology (S&T), Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, besides CEO, JAKEDA, Dr P R Dhar, Chief Engineers-Sudhir Gupta, Hashmat Qazi, AK Sachdeva, Manhar Gupta, XeN Neeraj Sharma and other officers of PDD and JAKEDA. The Advisor had a detailed review of the initiatives being undertaken by the concerned departments. He further enquired about the Power Purchases, upcoming solar projects besides various programmes being implemented by the concerned departments for improving and augmenting the solar power generation in the state. The chair was briefed about the overall renewable power scenario and solar power potential in the state. Advisor Sharma said that J&K has vast potential for solar energy that must be harnessed for the betterment of the State adding that it needs collective efforts by all stakeholders. “Policy for tapping Solar in the State is progressing but at the same time, there is a need to study the models of the states with more progressive Solar Policies” he added. Meanwhile, a team was constituted to visit the states like Madhya Pradesh and other states with progressive solar power policies. The team shall visit such states and study the solar power policies and its implementation so that necessary amendments can be taken up by the concerned authorities to speed up the adoption of solar power in the state. A threadbare discussion was also held on effective policy formation for independent solar power producers in the state. The said departments were instructed to share the data of commissioning of solar power and installation of solar power plants with each other for better coordination.
