"People understand the value of this project since very few large development projects are happening in the valley," said Pratik Agarwal, chief executive officer of Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd., which is building the state's first private transmission line. "We have been getting incredible support as power is something people can relate to -- it's something that everyone wants. We got jobs and hope to get power, too, so my children can study and have a better life. "The lack of power is an economic drain on the state, according to Fayaz Ahmad Punjabi, junior vice president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "Modi pledged to bring power to 18,452 unelectrified villages within 1,000 days in his August 2015 Independence Day national address.

Source: Economic Times December 08, 2017 01:30 UTC