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Srinagar, May 24 (UNI) Despite having a potential of generating 20,000 MW electric power, Jammu and Kashmir state has only 12 per cent energy of its own and over 88 per cent power is being purchased from other states at present.

Taking into account all resources our local power generation at present is just 12 per cent, the Principal Secretary Power Development Department (PDD), Madhav Lal told estimates committee of Legislative Assembly.

He said to meet the power requirement the state is importing 88 per cent power from other state.

However, while giving detailed view of overall power situation and measures the department is going to take in future, Mr Lal said that the State-owned ambitious power project at Baghliar is expected to start its functioning by the end of this year.

With the commissioning of this project, he said, the power situation will definitely improve.

Earlier, the Committee expressed concern over the unsatisfactory situation and maintained that the department should evolve a well- knit and sustainable mechanism to improve the existing system.

He said that there is great need to initiate various reformative measures especially to meet the peak seasons.

The Committee also directed the PDD to initiate effective measures to improve the overall power scenario in the state.

The Committee issued specific instructions to the officers to provide uninterrupted power supply to those areas where electronic metering has been completed.

However, Mr Lal said as regard to provide uninterrupted power supply to such areas where metering process has been completed the department is committed on this, but still there are certain constraints in its way.

He sought cooperation of people and said that people should get their connection legalised as per the actual load they consume.

The department can achieve its goals for providing uninterrupted supply if people cooperate fully and pay for the energy consumed besides making judicious use of energy, he added.

To further improve the situation, Mr Lal said that the government is contemplating participation of private power producers in the State. For this the existing hydle policy needs to be reviewed.

UNI