Drass: Jammu and Kashmir can expect to get 20,000 megawatts of power through the solar energy medium within the next decade, said Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr. Farooq Abdullah recently.

Addressing a public gathering, Dr. Abdullah, a former state chief minister, said future plans included attempts to produce more power from water and wind energy to minimise the huge expenditure incurred through exploitation of conventional sources of energy.

He said the use of solar energy would help maintain balance in the environment.

Dr. Abdullah said that post-Kargil, the people of Drass had faced hardships and have exemplified the real spirit of national integrity in the years since the end of that war.

He described Drass as place recognised by the world for its scenic beauty, and added that the time was right to improve its socio-economic standards.

Urging residents of the area to keep their environment neat and clean, he asked guest house owners and hoteliers to provide better and comfortable boarding and lodging facilities to attract more domestic and foreign tourists.

Dr. Abdullah also met members of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, and informed them that as many as 11 hydel power projects were under execution.

Solar lights and solar power plants are also being installed in ten villages of Kargil District, he said.

He instructed officers to judiciously exploit natural resources in such a way as to harness power potential in the area.

A time-bound execution of various schemes would benefit the people in the long-term, he added.

Chief Executive Councillor, Kargil, Kachoo Ahmed Ali Khan, Executive Councillor for Roads and Power, Ghulam Rasool Nagvi, Executive Councillor for Revenue and Agriculture, Haji Ghulam Ameer and District Officers were present on the occasion.