Last Updated on July 16, 2022 at 2:56 pm
As soon as the ongoing power projects are finished, Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir would become a significant “power hub” for North India, producing close to 6,000 MW of power, according to Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh.
The Minister of State, who could not go to Kishtwar owing to bad weather, addressed a crowd virtually from Jammu and stated that the excess electricity production from Kishtwar will not only be used for other areas of the UT but would also be exported to other States. He criticized the fact that the previous administrations, which governed J&K for around 60 years, did not fully use the abundant natural riches of Chenab.
It is important to note that the 1000 MW Pakal Dul Project, 624 MW Kiru Project, 540 MW Kwar Project, 930 MW Kirthai Project, and the 850 MW Ratle Project have been restored as a joint venture between the Center and the UT. The Minister claimed that as a result of this partnership, the Kishtwar area has become one of North India’s major power centres. Additionally, he declared that all unskilled positions for locals would be reserved for them for these projects. He also vowed to give precedence to local talent when it came to the need for skilled labour.
He said that prior to 2014, getting to Kishtwar by car was difficult and the Doda-Kishtwar route may get stopped at the smallest of landsides. But as of now, it takes less than 5 hours to drive by road from Jammu to Kishtwar as opposed to more than 7 hours in 2014. He said that throughout the course of these eight years, Kishtwar has appeared on the aviation map of India and received approval for an airport under the UDAAN Scheme of the Centre.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that areas with untapped potential, such as Kishtwar, the North-East, and other hilly regions, will be crucial to India’s journey over the next 25 years. He said that these regions, rather than the saturated states, will propel India as a frontline nation in the world when it celebrates its 100th year of independence in 2047.
Among those who spoke during the gathering were former Minister Sunil Sharma, veteran politician Capt. Hukum Chand, senior BJP leader Tariq Keen, and BJP President Pradip Parihar. They all expressed their sincere gratitude for Dr. Jitendra Singh’s dedication and perseverance in securing a number of development projects for Kishtwar and his district.
