Jammu, April 02: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhary on Thursday called for the return of hydropower projects from NHPC Ltd to Jammu and Kashmir, stating that control over local water resources should rest with the people of the Union Territory.

Chowdhary while talking to reporters, said Jammu and Kashmir continues to bear a financial burden by purchasing electricity despite having significant hydropower potential.

“Water resources are ours, everything is ours, and still we are forced to buy power,” he said, emphasizing the need for greater control over local projects.

The remarks come amid a growing political debate over ownership and benefits of hydropower assets in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly as new projects continue to be developed under central agencies.

Chowdhary said that while there is a general consensus that Jammu and Kashmir should become self-sufficient in power generation, the current model has not achieved that goal.

“Everyone says J&K should be self-sufficient. Unfortunately, despite our projects, we still have to buy power. If you see how much we spend on purchasing electricity, you will be surprised,” he added.

Earlier, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Parra criticized the government for handing over two hydropower projects to NHPC Ltd.

Parra said the 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II and 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II projects, with a combined capacity of 500 MW, had been transferred to NHPC, raising concerns over limited local benefits and long-term control.

He had questioned the power-sharing arrangement and the broader implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s energy autonomy. [KNT]

Jammu, Apr 1: “Border villages are India’s first line of defence, and the residents are the first face of India that any outsider sees. Border residents are not only first in courage, sacrifice, and patience but you also stand first in the priorities of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji,” the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said this on Wednesday.

The Lieutenant Governor, as per an official statement  observed that the residents of border village are serving the nation every single day. That service must not be honoured only in words, but reflected clearly in the quality of life of every family, he said.

The Lieutenant Governor was speaking at a public event, organised under the Phase-II of Vibrant Villages Programme, at the vibrant border village of Makwal in Jammu.

The Lieutenant Governor directed the officials to ensure that no family is left out and no genuine need go unnoticed.

“Where existing schemes fall short in Makwal and other border villages, solutions must be created on priority, because for me, the development of border villages is a sentiment, a resolve, and a responsibility,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor said there must be no gap between what the government promises and what people actually receive.

“While planning or executing any scheme, always remember that every family in Makwal and in our other border villages is not just living on the border, but standing guard for India,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor observed that a border village is not the last but first village of India.

“To live here, to build a prosperous society here with complete dedication in the service of nation-building and national security is an act of extraordinary courage. Every moment of residents of border villages is the most powerful symbol of patriotism.

More than decade ago, border villages were routinely neglected. That time is over. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, whether it is Jammu Kashmir or the border villages of the North-East, the distance from Delhi has shrunk in a real sense,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor directed that all government officials must remove obstacles and ensure that Makwal and all other border villages receive every required resource.

“Our effort will be to ensure that more resources reach Makwal and other border villages than even the cities of UT. The number of villages formally notified as Vibrant Villages in Jammu District may be limited, but it is the clear effort of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah that all 541 border villages of Jammu district develop with the same energy and vision,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He further directed for dedicated Nodal officers for border villages and submission of monthly progress report of the villages under Vibrant Villages programme.

The Lieutenant Governor reiterated his resolve to ensure every border village is connected with better roads, fully functional schools, and abundant opportunities for the youth. With this mindset, we must work together to transform all our border villages into model villages, he said.

“We want every child in Makwal to receive the same standard of education that a child in any major city of India receives. We want every farmer here to have access to better seeds, assured irrigation, and reliable markets,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Assuring all the necessary support and assistance to the youth, the Lieutenant Governor said that there is no shortage of talent in Makwal and other border villages.

“What is needed today is the right direction for that talent. We must strengthen youth entrepreneurship and women’s self-help groups so that our youth, mothers and sisters are not only the backbone of their own families but also drivers of social and economic progress across the region

Our aim is to make Makwal and other border villages such model villages that young people can see their future here instead of migrating to the cities. For this, all stakeholders must come together to promote entrepreneurship and provide our youth with training, financial support, and consistent mentoring,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the Government of India is reaching doorstep of every family in border villages with all the central schemes, and in the last 5–6 years we have tried to ensure that every border village in Jammu Kashmir becomes more prosperous, more vibrant, and truly inspiring.

“Before 2019, around one-third of families in our border blocks were below the poverty line. In the last 5–6 years, a significant proportion of these families has moved out of poverty, and we have sharply expanded road connectivity to nearly every border village. Electricity, which earlier reached only a part of our border hamlets, has now reached almost every home. Telecom connectivity, once limited to a few villages, has now been ensured in all 541 villages, so that no border family remains cut off from the rest of the country,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that since 2020, we have placed special focus on agriculture, dairy, allied sectors, and tourism, leading to notable growth in farm and dairy output and a visible rise in local incomes through initiatives such as fairs and border tourism events.

“Earlier, a sizeable number of families migrated to cities in search of livelihood; after 2019, with new opportunities in self-employment, self-help groups, agriculture, and allied sectors, migration has reduced and village incomes have risen significantly,” he further said.

Responding to the demands, the Lieutenant Governor assured that appropriate action will be taken to address the issues of the residents of Makwal.

On land ownership rights of POJK Displaced persons, Lieutenant Governor said that the directions in this regard issued in 2024 are under implementation. He entrusted upon the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to ensure their timely implementation.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor initiated various development works through Own Sources of Revenue (OSR). These include: Model Anganwadi Centre, Synthetic Volleyball and Badminton Court, Community Hall with provisions of Library and Computer Lab, Health Sub-Centre at Makwal and Veterinary Dispensary at Sohajana.

The Lieutenant Governor handed over handheld X-Ray Machine to the health department, and also felicitated TB Warrior, progressive farmers and land donor for establishment of Model Anganwadi Centre.

Appointment orders and Sanction letters were also handed over to various youth of the village and beneficiaries under Mission Yuva and other different schemes.

Surinder Kumar, Member of Legislative Assembly from Marh; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Anil Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; R. Alice Vaz, Commissioner Secretary to Government, Planning and Information; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti; IGP Jammu; Amitava Chatterjee, MD & CEO, J&K Bank; Dr Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu; senior officials of army, police and civil administration and people in large number were present.