JKPCL to buy 200 MW Solar Power from SECI for next 25 years

Jammu: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved the purchase of 200 MW Solar Power through the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to meet the growing power demand and promote the use of green and clean energy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Farooq Khan and Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K, and Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.

The decision will allow the purchase of renewable energy at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.52 per kWh for the next 25 years, which is by far the lowest rate ever offered to J&K. Accordingly, the Power Department was also given financial approval for Rs. 110.37 crores per annum for purchasing the electricity from the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

The envisaged purchase of additional power will help JKPCL to partially meet the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) as fixed by the Ministry of Power Government of India, besides ensuring enhanced power reliability due to diversity in the power bucket of Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision will also prioritize the generation and usage of renewable solar energy in consonance with the national endeavour of promoting green energy for a reduction in carbon footprints and mitigating global warming.

It is expected that with the addition of this power the JKPCL will be better placed to meet the increasing power demand which increased from 18091.386 MU during 2020-21 to 19500-2000 MU in the current financial year.

The Power Development Department has been working towards ensuring 24X7 reliable electricity in major cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir by augmenting assets both at Transmission and Distribution levels under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (Flagship Programs). It is anticipated that with the completion of major ongoing flagship programs, the energy requirement will further grow and touch the 22000 MU mark, thus creating a demand for an additional, stable, and reliable supply of 300-500 MW power.

New Delhi: India and France on Friday held the third Annual Defence Dialogue, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and French Minister for Armed Forces Florence Parly discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional, defence and defence industrial cooperation issues.

The Ministers reviewed the existing militaryto-military cooperation, which has increased in spite of pandemic challenges and discussed ways to increase defence cooperation in all domains, Defence Ministry said.

“India-France Strategic Partnership is more relevant today than ever. I had an excellent meeting with my French counterpart, Ms Florence Parly. A wide range of bilateral, regional and defence industrial cooperation issues were discussed in the Annual Defence Dialogue today,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

India and France have recently concluded their annual bilateral Army Exercise, Shakti, with focus on counter-terrorist operations, in France in November 2021.

Defence industrial cooperation was discussed with focus on future collaborations and co-production between the two countries.

The Ministers acknowledged their convergences on a number of strategic and defence issues.

They expressed commitment to work together to enhance cooperation in bilateral, regional and multilateral forums.

France is the current chair of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and shall take over the Presidency of European Union from January 01, 2022. The two Ministers decided to work closely on a number of issues during the French Presidency.

Earlier, Florence Parly called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and paid tribute to Indian soldiers at the National War Memorial. She is expected to meet with other Indian dignitaries during her visit. (UNI)

Srinagar: In view of the recent attacks on Jammu and Kashmir police in the Kashmir Valley, the security forces have decided to step up the security grid across the Union Territory.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have been asked to remain extra alert, while the security networks are working to counter the militant organizations.

The Jammu and Kashmir police will now be given bulletproof vehicles to move from one place to another in Kashmir Valley. The Jammu Kashmir Police has also issued new guidelines for the soldiers. The cops are told not to go out of their places of postings or deployment alone and unarmed.

“We are taking all the preventive measures to counter these attacks, we will be providing bulletproof vehicles to the policemen traveling from one place to another. The lighting arrangements will also be put in place. Road opening parties will stay longer at the time of movement of Police Vehicles,” said Vijay Kumar, IG Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir Policemen who are off duty have been asked to remain extra vigilant. They have been told to remain extra alert while attending any social gatherings such as weddings, religious places etc.

The number of security personnel on the ground has also been increased. New bunkers have been put in place, and checkpoints at various places specially roads leading to different districts of Kashmir valley have been set up. (KINS)

Jammu: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh visited Police Training School, Manigam on Friday where he addressed a trainees’ Darbar.

Accompanied by ADGP Armed, S.J.M Gillani, IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, the DGP was received by the Principal of the Training School Shoket Hussain Shah and other senior officers of the centre and was presented ceremonial Guard on his arrival.

Addressing the trainees, the DGP impressed upon them to fully devote themselves to training, work shoulder to shoulder with fellow trainees, develop a team spirit with the fellow trainees and prepare yourself for duties and future challenges.

“You must enjoy each moment of training and togetherness as these days would be most memorable in the later professional life,” DGP said while emphasized the advantages of good training at the PTS now. “We are in a service which demands ability and courage to work in any given situation,” he added.

DGP said that the recruit trainees should make best use of all the facilities available in the training institute and learn all the nuisances of policing. He said that they should follow the training curriculum with dedication as in future they would be shouldering the responsibilities with their fellow policemen working already on ground for maintaining peace and tranquillity in J&K and a secure environment for its people.

He said that training provides an opportunity to the trainees to shape themselves as a confident, well equipped and well mannered police man. He said that the trainees were lucky for being trained in one among the few training centers which is rich in its natural beauty and this phase of grooming will determine how successful they would be professionally later.

He also advised them to prepare themselves to face the difficulties and remain cheerful in all circumstances. He directed the training staff to sensitize the trainees about their role in the field for facing multiple challenges. He advised the trainees to take care of their health and avoid unnecessary use of mobile phones.  He advised them to learn to respect each other’s belief.

The DGP paid tributes to the Zewan and other slain of J&K Police who sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the interests of the country and the people. He said that as a family, J&K police would provide all possible support and assistance to the martyrs’ families.

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Friday reviewed the functioning of the Housing & Urban Development Department and took stock of the progress under developmental programmes and schemes.

Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Commissioner Secretary, Jal Shakti, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Directors Urban Local Bodies Jammu and Kashmir along with concerned officers participated in the meeting.

It was informed that the Department observed the first-ever ‘My Town My Pride’ programme in October 2020 with a 3 fold objective of enhancing public outreach across the urban areas and towns of J&K; providing door-step service delivery; and strengthening the grass-root democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. During the 2-day programme, 553 developmental works were identified, of which 345 have been completed so far and the remaining will be completed by March 2022.

Regarding, the Mass Rapid Transit System-Metrolite (MRTS), it was informed that the two projects coming up in the twin capital cities, on completion, will provide a safe, reliable, convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable mode of urban transportation.

The Metrolite corridors will run from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana (23 km) in Jammu, Indra Nagar to HMT Junction (12.50 km), and Hazuri Bagh to Osmanabad (12.50 km) in Srinagar. Once functional, MRTS will promote public transportation with a corresponding reduction in traffic congestion by reducing per capita vehicle ownership and also the per capita traffic accidents.

Under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), 64 projects have been completed and the remaining 19 will be completed by March 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs. 513.13 crore.

The Mission sponsors developmental works in various sectors including urban transport, drainage, green spaces, water supply, and sewerage management. Jammu and Kashmir has received 13.13 crore as reforms incentive for registering good performance on various parameters.

To further boost development in the urban areas, AMRUT 2.0 is being launched for 5 years with a target of providing water tap connections to all statutory towns; sewerage connections in 3 AMRUT mission cities; and rejuvenation of water bodies, green spaces, and parks.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (URBAN) 2.0, the department will be working towards achieving a ‘garbage-free’ status for all cities and towns by focusing on segregation of solid waste and door-to-door collection in all urban local bodies.

The Chief Secretary directed the Department to ensure ‘litter-free’ urban areas by 2022 and implementation of scientific waste management techniques including safe disposal in landfills.  The Department was advised to convert all legacy dumpsites into green zones through appropriate interventions.

Dr. Mehta reiterated the dedicated and persistent de-weeding drives in Dal and Nigeen lakes throughout the year for holistic cleanliness and upkeep of the areas, besides implementing the sewerage treatment protocols in a time-bound manner.

The Housing and Urban Development Department was asked to promote rainwater harvesting techniques in urban areas to optimally utilize rainwater and augment the receding water supplies.

Further, the Chief Secretary emphasized the financial and environmental sustainability of developmental works/models being executed through various local governance bodies and directed formulation of guiding principles and framework. The Department was asked to lay special focus on capacity building and training of both the elected members and employees of all urban local bodies.

The Department was also advised to evolve performance-linked incentives to reward the municipalities registering good performance in reform implementation.

Moreover, the Department was directed to promote IT-enabled citizen services by strengthening the IT infrastructure and back-end service support to extend the ease of access to remaining government services.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that India will be the world’s fastest growing economy in 2022-23 financial year, and due to the policy decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Covid-19 pandemic, India emerged on top when it came to dealing with the effects of the pandemic.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 94th annual conference (AGM) of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) here, he said that institutions like FICCI should make efforts to increase research and development (R&D) capital investment as per policy decisions.

Noting that the development of the poor is essential for the improvement of the economy, the minister said that investment in welfare measures for the poor increases gross domestic product (GDP).

Stating that Modi has made the common people the focus of policy making, Shah said that India will become number one in the world in the 100th year of its Independence due to the PM’s prudent policy decisions.

He also said that even the critics will have to accept that there has been a lot of change in the past seven years, and the the present government has not been accused of corruption.

Shah said that the government has expanded the scope of the economy.

“Sixty crore people out of the 130 crore population did not have a single bank account in their family. People did not know how different policies benefited them, they did not realise what benefits they received after Independence. PM Modi said that by connecting 60 crore people with the country’s economy, the government not only gave them their rights, but also worked to connect them with the development of the country.”

The minister also said that today the government has been bearing the cost of healthcare of 60 crore people, while every house now has toilets.

“Electricity has been provided to every house and people’s lives have changed,” he said.

Elaborating some important decisions taken in the past two-and-a-half years, the Home Minister informed that Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme came in 13 areas under which incentives of about Rs 2 lakh crore were given, there were many reforms in the mining sector, the National Asset Reconstruction Company was established, the National Asset Monetisation Pipeline was announced, and Retrospective Tax was abolished. (IANS)