Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 20: In a major announcement, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today said that Government would ensure uninterrupted power supply by 2019 at affordable prices in the State after the implementation of several flagship schemes that are in progress under power sector.
Speaking on demand of grants, Dr Singh, while enumerating various initiatives undertaken in the power sector, said that 24×7 Power For All (PFA) document has been finalized and signed with the Union Government, which provides road map of providing 24×7 quality power to the consumers at affordable prices. He said that by December 2019 24×7 supply of power would be provided to the consumers of the state.
Singh while referring to the return of power projects to the State said that it is enshrined in the Agenda of Alliance and necessary steps are under way with the concerned corporations so that they can be returned back to the State. He said that this would further augment our electric generation capacity. “A Committee has also been formulated to work out a mechanism by which the losses suffered by the State on account of these would be compensated and we are hopeful that we would be given the requisite compensation”, he added.
Referring to the Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses, he said that a robust mechanism has been put in place which has ensured that these have been brought down from 64% in 2014-15 to 59% during 2015-16. He said that there are 28 lakh registered families with the CA&PD department and only 16 lakh registered with the Power Development Department and the shortfall would soon be reconciled.
Singh said that in order to ensure upgradation of the power infrastructure various schemes have been undertaken and the RAPDRP has been accelerated by taking up the issue with the executing agency, IRCON. He said that major headway has been registered in the execution of the scheme meant to upgrade the infrastructure in the urban areas. “The scheme would also ensure the checking of transformer damage which is one of the major concerns confronting the department”, added.
While referring to Deen Dayal Upadyaya Grameen Jyoti Karan Yojana (DDUGJY), the Deputy Chief Minister said that out of the projected cost of Rs. 1200 crore, an amount of Rs. 616 crore have been released. He said that the electrification of all un-electrified hamlets would be done under the same flagship programme. “3.56 lakh households are without electricity and they would be covered under the scheme by December 2019”, he maintained.
Singh said that an amount of Rs. 414 crore has also been released under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) which would be for the continual up-gradation and creation of infrastructure for electricity distribution.
The Deputy Chief Minister, while referring to the revenue generated during this year, said that an amount of Rs 1937.4 crore has been realized which is 11% more than that realized during the last fiscal. He said that the project of smart metering would also be implemented which would ensure that the electric pilferage is checked and monitored and under the guidelines of the UDAY Scheme 100% metering would be ensured by 2019-20.
Singh while referring to the re-structuring of the outstanding power purchase debt said that under UDAY and issuance of bonds by the Government, the interest burden on the State would be reduced by Rs. 700 crore.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that there are 60,000 identified BPL families in the State and they would be provided 30% free electricity by 1st January 2017. He said that several other initiatives have also been undertaken in the sector.
Singh also referred to the various initiatives being under taken in the Housing Sector and said that these initiatives would ensure that the State comes up as one of the model States of the country.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government would be providing Rs. one crore to each constituency for upgrading the electric infrastructure. He said that the Deputy Commissioners would be the nodal officers and the works would be undertaken on the recommendations of the concerned legislator. He said this would ensure area based development and would be done on the demands projected by the local populace.
Later, the House passed the grants of Power, Housing and Urban Development Departm-ents, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Deputy Chief Minister, amounting to Rs 14641.60 crore with voice vote.
The members who took part in the discussion on the grants include Nawang Rigzin Jora, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, B. A. Dar, Mian Altaf Ahmed, M. Y. Tarigami, Sat Paul Sharma, Vikar Rasool Wani, Abdul Rahim Rather, Shakti Raj Parihar, Shamim Firdous, Anjum Fazli, G. M. Saroori, Rajesh Gupta, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Usman Majid, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Ch. Sukhnandan, Ravinder Raina, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Ch. Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Jeewan Lal, Mubarak Gul, Deldan Namgyal, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Dinananth Bhagat, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Neelam Kumar Langeh, Abdul Majid Paddar, Javid Rana, Asgar Ali Karbalaie, Raja Manzoor, Rajeev Sharma, Yawar Ahmed Mir, Kamal Verma, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Gagan Bhagat, Ch. Qamar Hussain, Javid Hassan Baig, Kuldeep Raj, Divinder Kumar Manyal and Krishen Lal.
Later, the members, who moved the Cut Motions on the Grants, withdrew after the reply and assurances from the Deputy Chief Minister.
Earlier, speaking on demand of grants, Rigzin Jora said that the Power Minister should urge Centre for more funds for the power sector in the State so as to modernise it. He said that when he was Power Minister, the State signed a memorandum of understanding for setting up 5000 MWs solar power project for Leh and 2500 MWs for Kargil. He accused the present Government of throwing this in dustbin. He said that the Government has neglected the Agriculture sector and this has led to the people shifting to urban areas in Srinagar and Jammu.
Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh asked both the opposition and ruling parties to stop playing blame game and get the power projects from Centre back for the benefit of the State. He demanded more funds for receiving Stations of his constituency for their upgradiation.
Mohammad Yusuf Bhat said that the distribution losses have to be tackled as it is a major burden on State exchequer. He said that his constituency lacks transformers and transmission wires. He said that the people get fat power bills but power is only playing hide and seek. He said that there are power crisis in his constituency while in neighbouring Financé Minister’s constituency there is no power crisis. He said that Shopian town has been neglected and there are no street lights.
Bashir Ahmad Dar demanded Kralpora and Trehgam be brought under Town Area Committees.
Main Altaf Ahmad demanded that more power houses be built in the State. He said that the power houses that are under construction are facing crisis. He said that the Power Ministry should first set its own house in order and then demand transfer of power houses from Centre.
Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami said expert team should study flood management for saving important cities and town from floods like that of 2014. He said that the outskirts of Jammu have been neglected. He demanded a study be conducted that how much loss State suffered due to Indus Water Treaty. He said that no industry will invest here as there is power crisis and it has to be tackled first before inviting industrialists to the State. He expressed concern over power distribution and demanded that it should be tackled.
Satpal Sharma said that work at Shakti Nagar Receiving Station has been supended due to a land dispute and demanded that it should be resolved and the work taken up. He demanded upgradation of Medical College Receiving Station He expressed concern over the material used in poles etc. He demanded transformer banks at various places so that people may not suffer especially in summers. He demanded upgrading of Janipura Grid Station. He demanded that the delimitation process be started in the State. He also demanded that the solid waste management should be taken seriously by the Government.
Vikar Rasool said that the money has not been spent under various schemes for last three years. He said that not a single BPL family has been metered and how can Government provide 30 power units free of cost to such families. He said that LTs and HTs need to be improved and in rural areas wires are tied to trees and it leads to power losses.
Abdul Rahim Rather demanded public toilet and wash room facilities for towns. He said that transmission lines and LTs be upgraded. He demanded metering across the State be expedited. He demanded amnesty scheme for those whose power bills are outstanding for long.
Shakti Raj Parihar said that for economic growth the power sector is vital. He said that State has failed to tap the water resources for power generation. He said that the work on various power projects should be re-started so that power generation can be increased. He demanding upgradation of Receiving Stations and strengthening of HT and LT lines in his constituency.
Shameema Firdous said that Srinagar city roads have been neglected despite it being capital city. She said that the road networks in Srinagar has not been improved for long. She said LT and HT lines be upgraded in her constituency.
Anjum Fazili expressed concern over the construction of ghats along Boulevard. She said illegal structures have come up in Laam area of Srinagar. She demanded restoration of Joggers park at Rajbagh post September 2014 floods.
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