Srinagar, June 29 : Minister for Public Works and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri said the transfer of power projects is an important point of agenda of BJP-PDP Coalition Government.
Intervening in the main question of Dr Shehnaz Ganai, the Minister said that Government will work with the Union Government to, inter-alia, explore modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri hydro power projects to J&K State. He said on March 16th, 2015, the Deputy Chief Minister and the Finance Minister met the Union Power Minister formally and discussed various issues relating to power sector. They impressed upon the Union Government for transfer of power projects of Dul Hasti and Uri from NHPC to State.
Veeri said to work out the present cost the power projects of NHPC in the State, an Independent Consultant was hired by J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited and based on the documents available like audited balance sheets and Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) orders, the Consultant had calculated the present cost of Salal, Uri-I, Dulhasti, Uri-II, Sewa-II, Nimo Bazgo and Chutak HEPs. The report of the Consultant is under examination of J&K SPDC.
Replying to main question, the Minister of State for Power Syed Farooq Andrabi informed that the Power Consumption in the State has remained as 6580.65 MU against an lnput Energy of 14226 MU.
The Minister informed that there were 53.74 percent T&D losses during last year, while as 58.83 percent Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses during last fiscal. He said the Power Development Department has been able to bring down the AT&C Losses from 72.68% in 2011-12 to 58.83% in 2015-16.
Andrabi said various flagship programmes are currently under execution to bring down these losses and for providing reliable power supply to various categories of consumers which include RAPDRP, DDUGJY, IPDS & PMRRP. He said these programs focus on the up- gradation and strengthening of the transmission and distribution system in the State. He said various investment Plans of JKPDD especially in distribution and sub transmission sector are targeted towards bringing AT&C losses to 15% by financial year 2019-20. He said various steps are being taken to reduce the losses, adding that Transmission Plan has been framed and vetted by CEA in the 12th and 13th Five year plan for strengthening and augmentation of Intra State Transmission System.
The Minister said an amount of Rs.1263.95 has been earmarked under PMRRP in 2015 for strengthening of Intra State Transmission System, Construction of 400 KV transmission line (Samba-Akhnoor Delina via Mugal Road), Construction of 220 Alusteng-Leh Lines. He said at distribution level, Re-structured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) has been launched to cover urban areas- towns and cities with population of more than 30,000 (10,000 in case of special category states like J&K), he added.
The Minister said an estimated cost of Rs.444.50 crore has been sanctioned under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) for strengthening sub-transmission and distribution networks in the urban areas, Saying that under 12 circles, 86 Towns have been identified in the State to cover under the Scheme which would be completed by 2017-18.
The Minister said under Deendayal Upadhayaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Rural Electrification
Corporation Limited (REC) has been made Nodal Agency for operationalization and implementation of the scheme under the overall guidance of Union Ministry of Power.
The Minister said the Government has approved an amount of 11.35 crore under PMRRP for 2015 for strengthening transmission and distribution network. He said Rs.3790 crore have also been earmarked for capital cities, 4 Industrial estates, heritage sites and important places of pilgrimage under augmentation of Distribution system.
The Minister said that presently the District Poonch has requirement of 180 transformers of different capacities. He said that 1679 transformers were currently installed in the district and there is reserved Pool of 41 transformers. He further said that 24 transformers were under repair as on June 10th , 2016.
The Minister said that out of 81778 Rural and 8222 Urban House Holds, 63787 and 8058 House Holds stands electrified in Poonch respectively. (GNS)