PDD intensify drive against defaulters, snaps power supply of 41781.

Jammu: In a bid to stop power pilferage and losses across Jammu and Kashmir, the Power Development Department has snapped electricity supply for over 41000 defaulters, which resulted manifold increase in its revenue.

An official told The Dispatch, that the government is working in direction to make Jammu and Kashmir government as power surplus union territory.

“Apart from increasing the power generation capacity by initiating new power as well as expediting the work on existing projects, there is clear direction of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha to take tough action against defaulters,” he said.

He informed that acting tough on the defaulters, the enforcement wing of PDD department recently has snapped power connection of 41781 defaulters across Jammu and Kashmir.

He added that the action against defaulters yielded desired as the revenue generation up 23 percent.

“We have recovered Rs 4106.63 lakh arrears. The revenue realization has increased by 23.16 percent wherein Rs 954 crore was realized last year and 1176 crore realized ending September this year,” he said.

In next move, he said that the department will soon launch ‘name the shame’ campaign. “In this campaign, the names of defaulters irrespective of positions as well as statures, their name will be published on the hoardings in the premises of PDD office in their respective areas,” he said.

The J&K government faced huge embarrassment earlier in summer due to huge power outages in Jammu region.

Taking serious note of power outages Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha then assured the people of Jammu division that a Committee will be constituted by the Chief Secretary to enquire into the recent unscheduled power outage in various areas.

The Lt Governor said much before the onset of summer, several meetings were held under preparation plan to prevent erratic electricity supply in Jammu division for May-June when mercury soars high.

Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta was asked to constitute a committee to enquire into the matter and those found responsible should be given the highest punishment as permissible under the law.

The Lt Governor had said despite losses to the tune of Rs 3,500 Crores incurred every year on electricity, the Union Territory is working round-the-clock to strengthen transmission, distribution network, and power generation capacity in the UT.

The Principal Secretary, PDD, J&K, Rohit Kansal on Wednesday briefed Union Secretary Power, Alok Kumar about the energy demand and consumption of the Union Territory to.  Kansal said that the J&K PDD’s main focus is to increase revenue, reduce losses and incentivize the employees of the Power Department for which a pilot incentive scheme Revenue Enhancement Scheme (RES) has been proposed.

The PDD has also massively enhanced the transmission capacity of Jammu and Kashmir in last couple of years. J&K has witnessed a 150 percent leap in the last two years. During the last 70 years from 1947 to 2019, J&K had 8394 MVA transmission capacity and from April 2019 to March 31, 2022, more 3806 MVA will be added. While the projects lying dormant or languishing for the last several years have been revived at a speedy manner with a total of 82 projects in different areas to be revived in the UT.

On the distribution front, the major achievements were discussed and projects taken under IPDS, PMDP-U and R, DDUJY and other centrally sponsored schemes were also discussed in detail. He informed that in order to liquidate Power Purchase liabilities, J&K has availed soft loans to the tune of Rs 11029.47 Cr offer from Government of India to clear liabilities of power purchase to GENCOS and TRANSCOS.

Kansal said digital payments have jumped manifold and J&K is ranked third across India with a 278 percent increase in digital payments. On the power generation front, the meeting was informed that 1400 MW is nearing completion with Pakal Dul (100MW), Ratle (850 MW) and Kiru (624 MW) are under construction while historic MOUs were also signed this year.

With respect to generation of clean energy, the Secretary was informed that 9 MW solar power plant is being established at Pampore township of Kashmir, Kishenganga Dam small hydel project to light up Gurez is also under construction, besides 12MW small hydro power project at Karnah is under construction besides 100 year old heritage Mohra project, built in 1902 is being revived.