‘Major crackdown on cards against power thieves’
KINS Desk
Srinagar, March 19 (KINS): The Government of India is seriously mulling to unbundle the J&K’s power sector as Rs 607 Crore have been earmarked for power reforms while as stage is set to install two lakh smart meters to overcome the power pilferage in the newly carved out Union Territory (UT).
Top sources told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the ailing Power sector of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is in top priorities of the centre and many measures have been implemented for the improvement of power sector in the UT. “The centre intends to deepen the reforms which shall include installation of two lakh Smart Meters with the objective of reducing AT&C losses and improving quality of power supply to the people of J&K. The government will take all necessary measures to reduce the AT&C losses from present 49 per cent to levels comparable to the national average,” one of the top officials said.
He told KINS that Rs 607 crore have been allotted for implementation of measures for improvement of power sector in the UT.
The official maintained that strengthening of enforcement and 100% metering are some of the Key objectives of the central government.
Meanwhile sources told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that a major crackdown is on cards against power thieves this year who include influential persons and institutions which are habitual offenders.
Sources said that after the abrogation of Article 370, the administration has decided to implement the project on a priority basis as the Union Power Ministry wants J&K to boost revenue collection and reduce T&D losses which are nearly 60 per cent, the highest in India.
As per the Census 2010-11, the number of households in the state were 20,15,088 and 17,53,201 households avail electricity. However, only 15,72,815 consumers are registered with the PDD.
“Dealing with power pilferage in J&K is a major issue confronting the government. After implementing the plan, there will be minimum human intervention as real time gathering of data from consumers to data centre will be introduced,” said a senior official in the Power Department. (KINS)
