* Says stage set to catapult State’s power scenario
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 28: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that while scores of newly started power generation projects in the State are set to catapult energy scenario in the State and help achieve the goal of self-reliance in electricity needs in near future, the initiatives taken to upgrade and smoothen power supply and service delivery will also broad base the customer care of the Power Development Department.
Omar Abdullah said that the special drive launched by the Government to ensure substantial increase in power generation in the State by launching and approving mega, small and micro hydel projects in the State sector, IPP and PPP mode will yield fruit in next some years benefitting not only the domestic and industrial consumers but transforming Jammu and Kashmir from power deficit area to energy surplus State.
Inaugurating Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD in Bemina near here, the Chief Minister said that the completion of the Centre is a landmark achievement of the programme under implementation in the State under Re-structured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) to tone up the power supply system in two cities and 28 towns of the State.
It was stated on the occasion that a population of 10,000 and more as per Census 2011 is covered under the programme which constitutes four parts. The Part-A relates to improvement and establishment of base-line data by employing system metering and using IT applications for energy accounting and auditing. Part-B includes regular distribution strengthening projects and Part-C deals with capacity building and trainings while the Part-D relates to third party independent evaluation.
Besides two cities of Jammu and Srinagar, 11 towns in Jammu and 19 towns in Kashmir have been identified as project areas under R-APDRP. The towns are Anantnag, Budgam, Bandipora, Baramulla, Bijbehara, Dooru, Ganderbal, Handwara, Kargil, Kulgam, Kupwara, Leh, Pattan, Pulwama, Shopian, Sopore, Srinagar, Sumbal, Tral in Kashmir Division and Akhnoor, Bhaderwah, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, R.S.Pora, Samba and Udhampur in Jammu Division are being benefited under the programme. The programme will facilitate 2,56,679 consumers in Kashmir division and 2,37,002 in Jammu division.
Any consumer can ascertain details of his bills and payments. He can obtain duplicate bills; enquire about the cause of shut down, repairs to transformers, registration of new connections and all details about the supply and distribution of power in his area. The 24×7 Call Centre will be available to the general public for lodging power supply related complaints and redressing the grievances thereof.
The Chief Minister directed the Power Development Department to involve Khidmat Centres in the programme so that people other than internet users take best advantage of the Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD.
In a PowerPoint presentation the Chief Minister was given detailed account of the functioning of the Data-cum-24×7 Customer Care Centre of PDD and its benefits to the general public. It was stated that PDD has digitalized all its consumers in the State besides revenue collection.
Minister of State for Power, Vikar Rasool, MLA Batmaloo Assembly Constituency, Ifran Ahmad Shah, Commissioner Secretary Power Development Department, A. K. Mehta, various Chief Engineers of PDD, District Development Commissioner, Srinagar and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
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