J&K Government wants funding for the power projects

The Jammu and Kashmir government has sought funding for power projects under the relief and infrastructural package that has been submitted to the Centre and has demanded Rs 37,000 crores for the projects. The Centre is going to announce a massive infrastructural package for the Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days.

A top official of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) told to the media reporters that a blueprint for power projects and transmission lines was prepared and then forwarded to the state government. Alongside we have prepared Detailed Projects Reports (DPR’s) for setting up of the power projects in the Jammu and Kashmir. And these projects will be managed by JK’s Power Development Corporation and National Hydro Power Corporation. Our proposal has been submitted to Centre along with other projects.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammad Ashraf Mir State government already submitted DPRF to the centre and hoping that Centre will give us generous funding so that we could generate enough power and become self sufficient in the coming days.Our power demands are increasing, we have resources but are unable to tap them. Although state government wants exclusive funding for those projects that will be at the disposal of the state government.

Sources said that Centre has already agreed to fund the projects that will be managed by the NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation. Currently, major portion of the state budget around Rs 3100 crore are spent on the purchase of power that puts burden on the state exchequer.

Apart from power, the state government has sought around Rs 40000 crores for the road projects especially four major tunnels that will help in better connectivity within the state. The tunnels will come up at Kargil, Mughal road, Tanghdar and in Jammu.

Recently Union secretaries of various departments had a detailed meeting with the officials of J-K government in which big projects related to the state were discussed. The Union Secretary of Power had a detailed discussion with state officials about the feasibility of the projects especially hydro power projects.