Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 23: Commissioner Secretary Power Development Department, Hirdesh Kumar, today chaired a meeting to review the progress of various centrally-sponsored schemes in the power sector.
The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner (Power), Secretary Technical PDD, Chief Engineers of EM&RE Wing, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Chief Engineers S&O Wing Kashmir and Jammu, Chief Engineers Project Wing Kashmir and Jammu, Nodal Officer 24×7 PFA, JKPDD, and other concerned.
During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary took a thorough evaluation of achievements and bottlenecks impeding the progress of flagship schemes, which are under implementation from last one-and-a-half year.
It was informed that the preliminary hurdles/ steps for starting up the works viz. mobilization of man-power, establishment of work-centres, material procurement etc. have been cleared and more than50% material has already been transported to respective sites in all the districts.
However, the achievement in terms of parameters like creation of sub-stations, erection of DTs along with HT/ LT lines etc. is still low despite the fact that a number of works are in final stages of completion and are pending only due to issues like non-transportation of allied material etc, the meeting was told.
The Commissioner Secretary called for coordinated efforts to resolve the issues hindering the pace of works on priority. He also directed Chief Engineers, Project Wing Jammu, Kashmir, and Leh to issue notices to the companies which have registered poor performance to overcome their shortfall and achieve the set targets within 15 days. He directed the Department as well as the implementing agencies to strictly adhere to PERT charts to ensure that the schemes are completed within the stipulated timelines.
Specifically speaking about the winter zones, he said that directions have been issued to concerned PIAs to deploy double shifts and additional man-power so as to achieve significant progress before the onset of winters. He also directed for immediate handing over of the assets so that they are added into the system as soon as they are completed, relieving the existing infrastructure and benefitting the general public without any delay.
During the meeting, progress of various transmission projects was also reviewed. It was informed that a few projects have not yet commenced and are stuck up due to land acquisition problems and RoW issues. Taking note of the same, Kumar directed the concerned to take up the matter with the officers of respective Departments for resolution of the issues or identify/propose alternate locations, in case of non-resolution so that the works are not delayed further.
Regarding the distribution strengthening works under various flagship schemes, it was given out that all the works stand awarded to different project implementing agencies/ turnkey contractors for both rural and urban areas in all 22 districts of the State.