By IANS,
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir’s Raj Bhavan and the civil secretariat would soon shift to solar energy for their power needs besides other government offices and educational institutions, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said here Tuesday.
During his meetings with Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah discussed the scope and optimal exploitation of the vast potential of non-conventional energy resources, including solar, wind energy and geo-thermal energy and mini and micro-hydel projects, in the state.
A team of inistry officials accompanying Farooq Abdullah suggested that solar energy panels be installed for lighting and water-heating in Raj Bhavan, both in Srinagar and Jammu, on the lines of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. They also offered to help in preparing a time-bound implementation plan.
Governor Vohra referred to the enormous potential of using solar energy for lighting and water-heating in Katra town and en route from Banganga to the holy cave shrine of Vaishno Devi in the Jammu region.
The governor also emphasised the need to adequately publicise the use of solar and other non-conventional energy sources, which could be emulated by the hotel industry and the general public in the state.
Farooq Abdullah assured the governor his ministry would provide all possible help in preparing the conservation and solar use plans for Raj Bhavans at Srinagar and Jammu as well as for Katra town and the track from Banganga to the holy cave shrine.