Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a review meeting of the Science and Technology Department.
The meeting was attended by Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance Department; Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary, Science & Technology Department and senior officers of NHPC, Central and UT Government.
The Lt Governor discussed important matters related to the functioning of the Jammu Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and Jammu Kashmir Science Technology & Innovation Council (JKST&IC).
He took stock of the key solar power projects and schemes including Rooftop Solarization of Government and Residential buildings, Solar Power Plants installed under Smart City Project and Floating Solar Power Plants.
The Lt Governor impressed upon NHPC to solarize all Government buildings within their mandate and instructed the Science & Technology Department to collaborate with NHPC and identify buildings for solarization.
He further directed the officials to explore the installation of solar panels along canals, riverbanks, and other water bodies, besides proper maintenance and timely replacement of street lights.
The meeting also discussed various other issues related to development of solar energy, Sub Regional Science Centre-Srinagar, Industrial Bio-Technology Park and IEC Activities under the Science and Technology field.
Meanwhile, LG also chaired a meeting to review the functioning of the Cooperative Department.
He took appraisal of the interventions and Schemes in Cooperative Sector including the progress achieved in establishing Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). He reviewed the functioning of Cooperative Banks, Cooperative Training & Educational Institutions, Societies and Cooperative Super Bazars, an official spokesman said.
LG appraised measures taken for modernization and upgradation of existing Super Bazars, with a focus on devising a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen these essential retail hubs.
The spokesman said that LG called for exploring avenues for enhancing the infrastructure, services, and market reach of Super Bazars to better serve the consumers and promote economic growth. He said the dedication, determination, faith and collective efforts of cooperatives will pave the way to prosperity.
The meeting also reviewed the functioning of Common Service Centers (CSCs). The Lt Governor directed for ensuring CSCs compliance with regulatory standards.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing transparency and accountability in the delivery of services through CSCs, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to citizen-centric governance.
He directed the officials to take effective steps to address the issues pertaining to pesticide distribution and underlined the need for stringent quality control measures to safeguard farmers’ interests.
Collaborative efforts between the government, cooperatives, and other stakeholders are must to streamline processes, enhance service delivery, and promote inclusive growth in the cooperative sector, the Lt Governor said.
