POWER WOES: J&K’s smart move may save state exchequer worth Rs 3500 cr

SRINAGAR: In a significant decision aimed at curbing the power losses which run in Crores of rupees for Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to do away with manual meter reading, replacing the conventional electricity meters with smart ones in next two years.
Together with other advanced technological interventions, particularly under Centre’s Rs 1,00,000 Crore Development Package, the state is looking at cutting down on the revenue deficit of Rs 3500 crore per year.
In the new advanced projects which are to be implemented in state, a major feature remains the installation of 2 lakh smart meters in urban areas, besides installation 9.25 lakh consumer meters included in Prime Minister’s Development Package and other flagship schemes.
In the urban areas of the state where hassle-free communication is available, there will be installed smart meters. These smart meters will facilitate the consumers to monitor real time consumption of electricity units and amount charged. There is no official confirmation yet, but it is also expected that the end users will be able to see all these statistics on their smart phones. Ambitious as it may look, the government stays committed to the mission.
“It will also provide facility to the department to enforce demand side management for ensuring 24x7 quality supply to the consumers,” officials of the Power Development Department (PDD) said.
For the rural areas, the government has another effective plan in place to check power pilferage. In these areas of the state, the government will be installing the smart pre-paid meters, which will work as the pre-paid mobile connections do.
“These prepaid meters can be charged by the consumers in the same manner as pre-paid mobile phones are charged and consumers will get supply from the meter till pre-paid amount is exhausted and consumer can recharge the meter again for continuation of the supply,” officials informed.
With the installation of these meters in both urban and rural areas, the manual meter reading is bound to go so as to make mechanism of billing system digital and foolproof.
The PDD has been asked to replace all existing conventional meters with smart meters and prepaid meters in 2-year time-frame while the officials believe that together with other new initiatives, the department will cut down on the revenue deficit of Rs 3500 crore per year.
The government has fixed responsibility at individual level to complete the projects in time bound manner and directed the officers to review monthly progress at CEs level.
This information come to fore on Saturday in a meeting convened by Advisor to Governor B B Vyas to review the progress of power sector wherein he directed for curbing power pilferage and cutting down on transmission and distribution losses.
Speaking at the meeting, Vyas sought detailed progress on projects sanctioned under the PMDP also including the establishment of Smart Grid in industrial areas.
Stressing on curbing power pilferage, the Advisor said that smart grid projects for industrial areas will enable the department to monitor and control supply to these areas at remote control centres which shall facilitate 24X7 quality power supply to these areas.
He also instructed to flag the issues related to land acquisition so that same are taken up with the concerned officers at earliest.
To ensure timely completion of projects tendered to different companies, Mr Vyas directed the officers to ensure that the manpower provided by the consultants for execution of various schemes possess the relevant qualification and experience.
Commissioner Secretary PDD informed the meeting that Government of India has sanctioned projects worth Rs 8011 crore under DDUGJY, RGGVY-II, IPDS and PMDP for capacity addition/ strengthening of generation, transmission and distribution systems in the State’s power sector.
He said that works under these schemes have been divided into 380 projects, out of which 361 projects have been tendered out, 276 projects are awarded, tenders of 81 projects are under finalization, 149 projects are completed and work is under progress in 127 projects. In addition, RAPDRP scheme is also under implementation at sanctioned cost of Rs 1817 Cr.
Regarding generation sector, it was informed that the total capacity available under Central, State and Private Sectors is 3124 MW and will be increased to 3571 MW by the end of the year end.
The Advisor was also apprised that transmission level at 220kV and 132kV, 220kV Srinagar – Leh Transmission Line, 220/132 kV, 320MVA Grid Station Alsteng, 400kV Samba-Delina line and Augmentation of 220/132kV Delina Grid Station are under progress and will be completed by October, 2018 to remove transmission constraints and to provide grid connectivity to Ladakh Region.
Regarding the achievement of department in achieving electrification of all villages in state, the Advisor was informed that all 102 un-electrified villages have been achieved before the stipulated timeline of 30th April, 2018.
“Under Saubhagaya scheme 2 inspirational districts; Baramulla and Kupwara are scheduled to be saturated with 100% household electrification by 31st August, 2018,” meeting was informed.