Ganderbal, May 14: The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on Friday urged the state government officials to take full advantage of assistance and funds coming from Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah.     
 The Chief Minister asked the PDD and Science and Technology departments to fine tune their functioning with the MNRE to best utilize the available financial and technical assistance for the purpose.
 The Chief Minister and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, inspected the renovation work of old Ganderbal Hydro Electric Project for which MNRE is providing Rs 10 crores to the state. The renovation would boost the generation of the project from current 3 MWs to 9 Mws.
 The Chief Minister and the Union Minister were also briefed about the new Ganderbal Hydro Project, a multipurpose project to provide drinking water and irrigation facilities besides generating 93 MWs of hydro power. The project is likely to cost about Rs 500 crores. It will also augment Rangil Water Supply Scheme and is likely to be completed by July 2014.
 The Chief Minister and the Union Minister also inaugurated Solar-Wind Hybrid Energy system for sub-district hospital, Ganderbal.
 It was stated on the occasion that under solar wind hybrid system PHC Narbal, SDH, Akhnoor, SDH, Sunderbani and SDH, Banihal were also being covered at a cost of about Rs 80 lakhs.
 As many as 6 wind masters are also being set up at Chandanwari Uri, Gulmarg, Khadinyar Varmul, Sonamarg, Kundra Reasi and Panchari Udhampur at a cost of Rs. 53 lakhs.
 Thirty three water mills are also being upgraded with the assistance of MNRE in the state while MNRE has also sanctioned about 40,000 solar home lights, 15,150 solar lanterns, one solar power plant of 50 KW at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Srinagar, 11 solar water heating systems, 1 state level Energy Park, 56 micro hydel projects and 3100 bio-gas systems for the state.
 Omar while acknowledging the unprecedented financial and technical support by the MNRE to Jammu and Kashmir thanked the Union Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah for his keen interest in helping the state to harness New and Renewable Energy Sources. 

 ‘ENERGY PRIME MOVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH’
 Omar last night while addressing a joint meeting of officers of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) led by Union Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah and high level officers of the State led by the JK Chief Secretary, S S Kapur, said, “Long term availability of affordable, accessible and environment friendly energy is the need of the hour. Energy is the prime mover of economic growth.” 
 Speaking in the meeting, Dr Farooq Abdullah said that MNRE was exploring all possibilities to energize JK villages and institutions of health, education and other sectors with new and renewable energy sources.
 Dr Farooq said that he and his team were presently here to further expand the orbit of cooperation in the field of MNRE with the state government.
 He sought the special cell of the State Government for looking after implementation of these schemes.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 IST