Omar for factoring in all options to improve power supply

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 30: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on Monday received PowerPoint presentation on measures to be adopted in power sector to mitigate difficulties on distribution and supply counts and ensure hassle-free electricity to the consumers in the State.
The presentation was made by Advisor to the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India, Gajendra Haldea at a high level meeting here today attended by Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmad Khan, Principal Secretary Finance, M. I. Khandey, Principal Secretary Planning, B B Vyas, Principal Secretary Power, Sudhanshu Pandey, Power Development Commissioner M A Salroo, various Chief Engineers and other officers.
A comprehensive and detailed scenario for betterment of power supply to the consumers in the State was given out in the PowerPoint presentation dealing with various aspects and actions required to achieve this goal to the satisfaction of general people.
The presentation also identified the areas where the initiative of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) can be utilized to upgrade power distribution and supply scenario. Details about franchisee and PPP models were also explained in the meeting.
Approving conduct of feasibility survey for both franchisee and PPP models, the Chief Minister said that feasibility report with expert opinion should be formulated to pave the way for moving ahead in this direction.
The Chief Minister said that the prime concern of the Government is to ensure hassle-free power supply to the people, adding that effective measures to achieve this goal are need of the hour. He said every option should be factored in to upgrade and improve power supply situation in the State. He directed for time bound measures in this regard and stressed on long-term and short-term strategy to address the issue.