Farooq backs smart grids for energy stability

National Solar Mission to produce 20,000 MW by 2022

Inaugurating a seminar on ‘Smart Grids Business Opportunities’ organised by the Consortium of Electronic Industries of Karnataka (CLIK) here, Dr Abdullah said: “In the wake of global warming, smart grids have a great deal to contribute to ensure energy stability and quality.”

Elaborating on smart grids, he said the grids enable two-way communication between consumers and power distributing firms, where the distributor will provide users information on efficient electric network operations.

“The smart grid helps distribution firms to regulate the power demand and channelise distribution. By installing a smart meter, the supplier can monitor energy used by consumer, even down to the household level,” Dr Abdullah added.

He further said that smart grid would help power utilities determine operating costs, improve energy efficiency and ensure clean environment by preventing depletion of fossil fuel and water resources.

Tackling terror

Abdullah, who spoke of the terror threat looming large, emphasised on the need for a collective effort to tackle terrorism and compared it to global warming saying: “This is not due to a single person or a country.”

Calling for a collective global effort to tackle this menace, Dr Abdullah said this should be taken as a collective responsibility and the world should come together to act upon it to reduce the terrorism and carbon emission.

Pointing out that snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir had depleted in the recent years, Dr Abdullah said that if the same trend continues, the perennial rivers of Himalayas will be reduced to streams in the coming years.

Emphasising on the role of renewable energy in tackling global warming, he said that his Ministry had set up a target of generating 20,000 megawatt of solar energy by 2022 as part of National Solar Mission.

“We have initiated to produce 1,300 megawatt of power over the next three years  of which 1,100 megawatt will be coming from the grid, while 200 mega watt will be raised from private generators,” he said.


Withdrawal of troops in Kashmir

Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that the ground situation in Kashmir valley is much better and the withdrawal of troops should not be a matter of worry.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ‘Smart Grids Business Opportunities’ seminar organised by the Consortium of Electronic Industries of Karnataka (CLIK) here, Abdullah said that the decision to withdraw troops from the valley has come after considering all the aspects of security.

“Infiltration has come down and the ground situation is much better in the state. We should not be worried about it. I am confident that the Army will not do anything that affects the country’s security,” he said.

He added that Kashmir has the best police force and with the assistance from Central Police, the situation can be managed.

On the looming terror threat, Abdullah said: “The world is not going to stand by and watch terrorism grow. We hope that once Pakistan takes action against the 26/11 masterminds, the talks will begin, which will further ensure peace,” he said.