J&K's financial autonomy is linked with power generation: Omar

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his vision to bring economic autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is linked with harnessing a maximum of 20,000-MW Hydro-Power potential available in the state.
"My government has laid the edifice in this regard and is firmly working on a roadmap to realise generation of 9000MWs of power within next 7 to 8 years," Omar said.
He maintained that while the total annual power generation in the state stood at 750MWs, indigenously since Independence, his government has launched various Hydro-Electro projects of capacity of 1750MWs in last five years.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation of a Rs 640.40-crore Parnai Hydro Electric Project near here, Omar said the important turnaround in the financial resources of Jammu and Kashmir is only possible when the state generates surplus power to export it to other states and earn substantial revenue for its development.

While tourism in the state is dependent on normality, generation of power, though of longer gestation, is a permanent avenue to revolutionise the financial status as also catapult the job scenario, Omar emphasised.
The Chief Minister said that while the Parnai Project will generate 37.50MWs of power after its completion, it will also eradicate chances of flood in Surankote besides helping in the irrigation and thus generating employment for locals.
"I have told the Minister of State for Power to work with local administration for identifying 250 to 300 youth of the area who would be provided free training including free boarding and lodging outside the state so that after the completing of the required training they are absorbed in the upcoming Parnai HEP," he said.

"I have categorically asked power companies in the state to necessarily engage locally available skilled and unskilled youths and identify the trades where the state government could help to upgrade the skills of locals to make them fit for the projects," he said.