‘State set to achieve self-reliance in energy production’
‘Public satisfaction should be first concern of PDD’
24×7 power supply to be achieved under R-APDRP: Vikar
Srinagar: Inaugurating Rs. 890 crore Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) for Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Mondayasked the Power Development Department to make public satisfaction first concern in its functioning.
“Public satisfaction and Customer Care should be the benchmark of your functioning”, he told the functionaries of Power Development Department stressing on strengthening Call Centres and Grievance Redressal Units recently established at the two Data Centres inaugurated by the Chief Minister under R-APDRP at Srinagar and Jammu in the last week.
The Chief Minister said that remarkable measures have been taken during the last five and the half years of his government to address power development both on generation and distribution fronts. He said as against 750 MW projects including Baglihar-I of 450 MW capacity completed in the State since 1947 to 2008, his government initiated generation of 1600 MWs capacity hydro electric projects in last five and the half years while projects of 2220 MW capacity are ready to be awarded for construction.
Omar Abdullah said that power sector has unfortunately remained political target in the State as such the tremendous work done and improvement registered in the generation and distribution during the last five and the half years has got over shadowed by the propaganda. He said his government has enhanced power supply by 46 percent during its tenure so far which is not a joke. He said similarly the quality and the voltage of electricity have been remarkably upgraded while 18500 new transmission lines erected to improve the distribution. He said 2600 MVA transformation capacity has been added by creating new Grid Stations and augmenting existing ones.
The Chief Minister said that there are some 1.50 lakh unregistered consumers getting electricity which is not reflected in the power supply system as such there is high percentage of transformer damages. He said he has asked the department to register all these unregistered consumers and incentivize the performance of grass root paraphernalia including linemen of PDD so that they are encouraged and given incentives for their performance in improving and reforming the distribution system.
Omar Abdullah said that technical as well as human intervention is required to improve and reform the power distribution system and ensure satisfaction of the people. He said before launch of R-APDRP, some elements started propaganda against this initiative carrying false bogy that this programme will add difficulties to consumers. He said that people should understand that R-APDRP is in the best interest of consumers to receive better and uninterrupted electricity and get their grievances redressed as early as possible. “It will not only improve the power distribution network but provide online facility to people to acquire their bills, make payments and have their grievances registered and redressed in shortest possible time”, he said adding that the system will also improve transparency in the revenue collection.
Omar Abdullah said that he has asked the PDD to work out special programme of power tariff for poorer sections of the society with the Finance Department so that they are further benefited on this count. He said presently the State Government is providing 63 percent subsidy on the supply of electricity to consumers while this subsidy to industry is of the order of 40 to 50 percent. He said Jammu and Kashmir is the first State after Sikkim which provides cheapest electricity to its consumers. He said R-APDRP will not only transform the power distribution conditions and infrastructure in the 30 towns of the State including Jammu and Srinagar Cities but its trickledown effect will also benefit other areas which do not fall under this programme.
The Chief Minister asked the PDD to make all efforts to improve its service to public and carry forward the trend of improvement and upgradation process in electricity generation and distribution and other disciplines. He also asked the department to gear up right now for meeting winter eventualities in the Valley on account of damage to the transformers, transmission lines and other installations. “We know there will be snow fall in the winter as such we should be prepared to face its challenge successfully. In this regard you have to be fully prepared undertaking all necessary measures in the summer months”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Minister of State for Power, Vakar Rasool highlighted the benefits of R-APDRP and said that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has fixed the target of achieving generation of 9000 MWs of power in the State by 2020 and PDD has already initiated a multipronged strategy in this regard.
The Minister said that R-APDRP-Part B will help to provide 24×7 electricity to the consumers in the State and reduce the transformers damage to two percent. He said the transformer damage which was 41 percent before five years earlier has been reduced to 27 percent now. He said 30 towns including 19 in Kashmir Division are been covered under the programme. He said under the Part-A of the programme five Grid Stations have been constructed and sixth is under execution.
The Minister said the power supply capacity of the PDD has been increased from 700 MWs to 1200 MWs during the last over five years. He said 220 Transmission Line is being carried to Valley via Mughal Road while another Line has been sanctioned for Ladakh. He said each District is being provided with Rs. one crore to upgrade its distribution network. He said T&D losses have come down from 70 percent to 56 percent in last above five years.
In a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation the Principal Secretary Power Development Department, A. K. Mehta said that among the key objectives of R-APDRP, 24×7 power supply on affordable tariff with improvement in quality and grievance redressal are the prime ones. He said reduction of outrages, safety of life and property and adequate generation and distribution capacity are other objectives of the programme.
He said there has been remarkable decrease in the electricity deficit of the State since last over five years and it has come down from 69.03 percent in 2007-2008 to 47.54 percent in 2013-14. He said streamlining of power procurement and widening the consumer base besides reducing AT&C losses will help to provide power supply to consumers at lesser tariff.
He said Part-B of R-APDRP include renovation, modernization and strengthening of 11KV sub-stations, Re-conducting of lines, Load bifurcation, Feeder separation, Cabling, Installation of capacitors, Replacement of electromagnetic metres and other works.
He said Anantnag, Budgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Bijbehara, Dooru-Verinag, Ganderbal, Handwara, Kargil, Kulgam, Kupwara, Leh, Pattan, Pulwama, Shopian, Sopore, Srinagar, Sumbal and Tral towns are being covered under R-APDRP.
Chief Engineer (M&RE) Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad Khan also made PowerPoint presentation giving details of the current power supply position in the Valley and the measures afoot for its further improvement and upgradation.
Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Agriculture, G. H. Mir, Parliament Member, Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri, MLA Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, various Administrative Secretaries, officers and staff of PDD were present besides the members of civil society.
The Chief Minister on the occasion also visited various stalls established by PDD and private companies in the field depicting new electric gadgets and transformers designed by them. The stalls also provided information and education about the power development sector in the State through broachers, pamphlets and bills.