Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Wednesday directed the Power Development Department to introduce strict and innovative measures to meet various challenges in fulfilling energy needs of the people.
He was chairing a high-level meeting to review the power scenario in J&K, wherein he enquired about the way forward and future deliverables planned by the Power Development Department (PDD).
According to an official press release, the LG directed the PDD to adopt action-oriented approach to streamline the power transmission and distribution system, besides putting in place a quality control system and setting long-term strategy for providing quality power with good mix of different sources of power to the consumers.
While reviewing various components of the power sector, the LG passed specific directions on minimizing AT&C losses.
Take preemptive measures for reducing the AT&C losses to bare minimum, he directed the officials.
Stressing on effective patrolling of feeders, the LG directed for taking strict action against officials responsible for the feeder losses, and directed for fixing criteria of 50percent weight-age in annual performance reports (APRs) of the officers with respect to the feeder losses.
He also emphasized on putting dedicated focus on real-time monitoring of power consumption, increasing revenue realization, improving billing efficiency, reduction of power cuts, and addressing the issue of low voltage.
“Deploy competent manpower and establish a comprehensive plan for cities and towns with high power consumption. Take remedial measures for ensuring utilization of power infrastructure to its full capacity,” the LG directed the PDD functionaries.
Emphasizing on strengthening the power connectivity in the far-flung areas, he called for reaching out to even the extremely remote and inaccessible areas with electricity. He also instructed the department to prepare a comprehensive plan for effective power connectivity in the vicinity of Amarnath shrine.
While suggesting the department to explore all the modalities and taking innovative steps for improving the efficiency of field functionaries, the LG called for incentivizing the field staff for their better performance. “This will not only enhance the quality of work on ground, but will also help in improving the revenue generation,” he added.
Laying special emphasis on making advance arrangements in the wake of any future vagaries, the LG asked the department to get ready in advance for the winters and start their preparations from 20th July.
“For making the system more transparent and efficient, monitoring shall be done at all levels. Principal Secretary, PDD shall hold the meetings of executive engineers individually,” the LG directed.
He also instructed the PDD to rope in professional experts for power purchases and asked the officials to mention the subsidy provided by the government on electricity bills for the information of consumers.
As a follow-up to the directions passed in previous meetings regarding Unique Identification numbers for transformers, the LG asked the officials for preparing history cards of transformers with all technical details like damages, repairs, replacement, etc., to ensure effective utilization of inventory and stores.
During the meeting, the LG also enquired about the power purchases, energy availability, distribution plan, upcoming projects, overall working of the PDD, besides various schemes and programmes being implemented for further improvement and augmentation of power scenario in the UT.
He was also briefed about several key issues pertaining to languishing projects, transmission capacity, providing uninterrupted power supply, transmission and distribution.
The LG asked the department to focus on up-gradation and replacement of old and obsolete infrastructure to keep up with the emerging requirements.
Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, PDD briefed the LG about the overall power scenario and power potential in J&K.
He informed that the establishment of 6 MW Solar Power Plant at Pampore is in the offing, besides the department is also planning to revive the 10.5 MW Heritage Power project – MOHRA at Baramulla.
The PDD is catering to 20,46,623 consumers with around 18,000 MU energy input to fulfill the power requirement in J&K, he added.
Meanwhile, in order to make the services of Power Development Department easily accessible to the people, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today launched the web portal of Electrical Inspection Wing, Jammu.
Highlighting the key features of newly launched portal, the LG observed that the initiative would make the electrical inspection process more convenient for the public.
The whole end-to-end process, that is, right from the application stage, depositing inspection fees, fixing date of inspection to the issuance of fitness certificate has been converted into online mode, he added.
This will also ensure the issuance of fitness certificate in a time-specific schedule, thus enabling the commissioning of installations for public use within the given timeframe, said the LG.
Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary, PDD informed that the applicant can log in to www.eijammu.in and apply for the inspection process.
Time-bound procedure has also been established wherein approval/denial shall be conveyed to the applicant through the website within 12 days, an official press release informed.
It said the initiative also aims at rectifying the shortcomings pointed out by the Electrical Inspection Agency within specified period in respect of a consumer after which the e-fitness certificate shall be issued by merely going through the rectified photographs uploaded by the applicant, without the need for re-inspection, thereby saving time.
For avoiding any electrical hazard/danger to life and property a provision has been kept for the public to upload picture of any unsafe electrical installation, if they notice it in their area, for immediate rectification by the utility staff, it was informed.
The LG directed for spreading the word so as to bring awareness amongst the public for getting their installations inspected for ensuring safety.
