*Asks DISCOMS to avail benefit of ANA
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 3: Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Rohit Kansal today urged the Distribution Companies (DISCOMS) viz. JPDCL and KPDCL to take advantage of the Special Economic & Comprehensive Package for them provided under the Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan.
The scheme provides for liquidity infusion of Rs. 90,000 crore to DISCOMs for discharging liabilities of DISCOMs towards power generating companies and to tide over the financial crises arising due to COVID-19.
He was reviewing the status of various pending issues and ongoing schemes of the department via online mode. Managing Director, Jammu Power Distribution Corporation, Managing Director, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation, Director Finance JKPDD, Secretary Technical JKPDD and Chief Engineer, Trading, J&K Power Corporation Ltd. participated in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that poor consumer metering in the UT of J&K is one of the main reasons for huge AT&C losses which are of the order of 48% against national average of 18.6%. The UT has a consumer base of around 21 lakh, out of which metered consumers are 50% only. The percentage of consumers with compliant metering is still lower. The unmetered consumers are being billed on fixed flat rate basis. This had resulted in large accumulated power bills and adversely affected the state of power finances in the UT. However, the one time liquidity infusion and comprehensive package would help resolve many of the long pending financial problems of the DISCOMS.
The Principal Secretary also reviewed the issues related to Annual Maintenance of IT assets owned by Distribution Corporations. He issued instructions to Managing Directors of Distribution Corporations to come up with comprehensive proposal before Board of Directors for annual maintenance so that contract for same is awarded and customer friendly billing could be ensured. He also issued instructions for improving the call centres and helplines of the DISCOMS so that all complaints could be easily accessed.
He directed the Jammu Power Distribution Corporation to pay special attention to power availability, transformer damage and repair cycles, functioning of district complaint centres and quick redressal of all public grievances in view of the rising temperatures and summer months.
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