Strengthening power infrastructure

Though much remains to be done in the entire scenario comprising power generation, distribution , revenue collection and checking its leakage , energising administrative and audit structure , yet it must be admitted that on comparative basis , there appears to be notable improvement at the ground level. This was seen in December last year when 20,000 employees of Power Development Department in the UT went on a total strike resulting in disruption in power supply to most of the parts of the UT but the Government conceded most of the demands of the striking employees , perhaps, keeping in view the hardships faced by the people and to ensure restoration of power supply as fast as possible. However, how to strengthen the entire power infrastructure is itself an issue of great import which should involve and engage the technical and engineering , professional, managerial and administrative , economic and commercial as also experienced professional experts. However, the UT Government embarking upon an ambitious plan of generating additional electricity by the end of 2024 to the tune of 2500 MWs as informed recently by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha depicted that this core sector was receiving reasonable attention and was perhaps addressed on priority.
There is no denying the fact that the entire power structure in Jammu and Kashmir has been in a worn out and dilapidated condition for years together in a row which needs to be transformed . In this connection, the UT Lieutenant Governor informing about the same being addressed with an aim of transformation and that too at a faster pace, generates hopes for the position of power getting improved for which the people of the UT have been yearning. It goes without saying that besides addressing areas specific problems related to power generation and distribution in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, at macro level, there was the dire need of bringing in slew of reforms and innovative measures to ensure a real turnaround in this vital sector. That is how we can interpret Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s assertion of the “resolve for practical, pragmatic and viable solution “to strengthen power infrastructure “in every district”.
However, of late an approach of addressing district specific problems pertaining to power by the Government can be observed as in the case of Samba district which had its own problems especially in matters of a grid station for which the prolonged wait of the people for as many as 15 long years is seemingly now over. That has resulted on account of Lieutenant Governor recently inaugurating as many as 22 power transmission and distribution projects in Samba costing Rs.216 crore. The event heralded nothing short of the change of face of the power scenario existing in the area hence the moment sounds historic in its own right. That is mainly because it was going to augment capacity and bring about vast improvement in power supply to people not only in Samba but its adjoining areas as well like Kathua, Hiranagar, Udhampur and many parts of Jammu. Since a good measure of industrial belt is located in the core areas of Samba , Kathua etc, it vastly stood benefitted thus giving push to production of the industrial products . Likewise, in Bajalta in Jammu, also 20 power distribution projects costing Rs.40 crore were inaugurated by the Lt. Governor to address power shortages usually experienced during peak seasons.
It is to be admitted that the economy of the UT is ”expanding” , new economic and commercial options and ventures are knocking at the doors of the potential of Jammu and Kashmir . In this connection, how much a leading part power does play in a sustainable and enhanced economic activities, hardly needs any emphasis to be laid on . Hence, both up-gradation of and improvement in power generation and distribution to fill the yawning gap of ever increasing demand for and supply of power in Jammu and Kashmir , needs to be addressed on priority. It is again heartening to note that upcoming power projects costing Rs.12922 crore in the UT will surely result in the addition into the total availability of power so as to increasingly reduce the import of power to benefit households, industry as well as agriculture besides resulting in opening up of more opportunities for employment, direct and indirect. The Lt. Governor being all praises for the honest consumer paying one’s power bills regularly , those ”bigwigs” and different political parties and their leaders who habitually are known in defaulting in paying power bills and there being huge outstanding against them , should be dealt with no leniency under the dictum of “Use and Pay”. In addition to doing everything possible in respect of more power generation and distribution, with installing smart metres and checking power theft as also realising power dues in time with missionary zeal, we are confident the UT will become self reliant in power generation , even with capacity to export it – the people of the UT have all these decades been “asked” to dream only rather than ”making” it come true