SRINAGAR: Minister for Revenue, Power Development Department (PDD), Law, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), and Elections, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today convened a review meeting of the Power Development Department (PDD) at the Civil Secretariat here.
The Minister took stock of overall functioning of the department besides assessing the preparedness for the forthcoming winter season. He reviewed the key initiatives and infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the power sector and improving electricity services across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary PDD, Ashwani Kumar, Managing Directors of all power corporations, Director Finance, Power Development Department, Special Secretary (S/P), Director Planning, Additional Secretaries (A/Z and Legal), Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers of KPDCL, JPDCL, JKPTCL, JKPCL and JKPDCL, besides Chief Electrical Inspector and other senior officers and concerned field functionaries of the department. Officers based in Jammu participated in the meeting through virtual mode.
During the meeting, the officers apprised the Minister of the working of the department, progress on ongoing developmental works, power generation and procurement arrangements, transmission and distribution infrastructure, financial performance, operational challenges and future requirements.
Emphasising that reliable, affordable and quality electricity is an essential public service, the Minister said that the ultimate objective of every departmental initiative must be to ensure improved power supply and better consumer satisfaction. He stressed that administrative efficiency, timely execution of projects and effective coordination at all levels must translate into visible improvements in public service delivery.
Reviewing preparedness for the forthcoming winter season, Sagar stressed the need for comprehensive advance arrangements to ensure reliable power supply, particularly in snow-bound, far-flung, hilly and remote areas. He directed the officers to maintain adequate stocks of transformers, cables, conductors and other essential equipment at strategically identified locations to facilitate immediate restoration of electricity in case of breakdowns and emergencies.
He emphasised that winter preparedness must be reflected in tangible arrangements on the ground. He called for regular inspection of vulnerable infrastructure, identification of potential bottlenecks and deployment of adequate technical manpower and machinery. He also directed the concerned officers to strengthen the field-level response mechanisms and ensure effective coordination among different wings of the department for speedy restoration of electricity during adverse weather conditions.
The Minister underscored that uninterrupted power supply to essential services including hospitals, healthcare centres, drinking water installations, educational institutions and other critical public utilities, must receive priority, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall and inclement weather.
The status of the electricity amnesty scheme was also reviewed, with the Minister emphasising that its intended benefits must reach all eligible consumers. He called for simplified procedures, effective public outreach and timely disposal of cases to facilitate people in availing the benefits of the scheme without unnecessary difficulties.
Taking stock of the overall power availability and demand-supply position, the Minister discussed the requirement for additional power procurement including the proposed procurement of approximately 200 MW from Uttar Pradesh through power exchange arrangements to bridge the demand-supply gap. He stressed the importance of advance assessment of electricity requirements and timely procurement planning to ensure adequate power availability, particularly during peak winter demand.
Reviewing the progress under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Sagar called for expediting works aimed at strengthening the distribution network, replacing overloaded transformers and other equipment, improving feeder infrastructure and reducing technical and commercial losses. He directed the officers to closely monitor the execution of these works so that the intended benefits of the scheme are translated into improved electricity supply and enhanced consumer satisfaction.
The Minister also reviewed the status of smart meter installation across Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that technological interventions should promote transparency, accurate billing, accountability and improved consumer services.
The existing power generation capacity, availability of electricity and possibilities of optimising available resources were also discussed.
The Minister stressed the need to explore all feasible avenues for enhancing generation, improving operational efficiency and ensuring better utilisation of available power resources. He also reviewed the status of transmission lines, grid stations, capacity enhancement and maintenance works. He directed the officers to identify infrastructure gaps, remove bottlenecks and expedite necessary interventions to strengthen the transmission network and improve the reliability of power supply.
Emphasising the need to improve the financial and operational health of the department, Sagar reviewed billing efficiency, revenue collection and measures for reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses. He stressed that improved revenue realisation and financial discipline were important for sustainability of the power sector; however, these objectives must go hand in hand with better consumer services, transparency and accountability.
He called for strengthening institutional mechanisms to ensure accurate metering, timely billing and efficient revenue collection while safeguarding the interests of genuine consumers.
The Minister directed the officers to adopt a consumer-friendly approach and ensure that complaints relating to unscheduled power cuts, faulty transformers, damaged distribution lines, low voltage and delayed restoration of electricity are addressed promptly. He further called for strengthening complaint-monitoring mechanisms and ensuring that officers remain accessible and responsive to public grievances, particularly during the winter months.
The long-pending issues concerning PDL and CLW workers engaged with the Power Development Department also received particular attention during the meeting.
He directed the concerned authorities to examine their cases in accordance with applicable government policies, rules and eligibility conditions and formulate an appropriate roadmap for their job security, rehabilitation and regularisation, wherever permissible under the rules.
The Minister also undertook a detailed review of major power projects presently under execution as well as those in the pipeline.
Highlighting the importance of coordination between the administrative machinery and elected representatives, the Minister directed field officers to maintain regular and meaningful interaction with the MLAs, elected public representatives and village heads, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The Minister also emphasised the need to explore innovative and sustainable approaches towards energy conservation, promotion of renewable energy, solar power adoption, feeder-level monitoring and efficient utilisation of available resources. He called for greater public awareness regarding responsible electricity consumption and energy conservation.
He further stressed that the performance of the department should not be assessed merely through the number of projects completed or expenditure incurred, but primarily through the actual improvement experienced by consumers in terms of reliability, accessibility, transparency and quality of electricity services.
