Minister for Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry Sajad Gani Lone today said the hydropower sector had the potential to raise the state’s economic status.
“The hydropower sector has a huge potential. If we can apply ourselves professionally we can easily supersede the tourism sector,” the minister after inaugurating the Energy Bhawan at Bemina here.
Lone said the agro-climatic conditions in J&K were so good that a lot could be gained from the sector. “Our state has the potential to fulfill the energy demand and supply gap,” he added.
Terming micro-hydro-power projects as a good business, he said hydro projects were better business than the conventional ones and asked people to invest in it.
The minister called the Science & Technology Department as the game changer and said the department could help in building capacities of people which in turn would help in creating entrepreneurs in the energy sector.
“I have a dream, to see entrepreneurs in the energy sector from our state. But for this, the Science and Technology Department has to work hard,” he said.
Assuring all possible support to entrepreneurs in getting various clearances for different energy projects, the minister said: “We have a very dynamic Chief Minister who is more than willing to help us in every possible manner.”
Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5.36 crore, Energy Bhawan would house offices of Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency and the J&K State Science, Technology and Innovation Council.
