KL Report
SRINAGAR
Inaugurating Rs 890 crore Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) for Kashmir, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday asked the Power Development Department to make public satisfaction first concern in its functioning.
“Public satisfaction and Customer Care should be the benchmark of your functioning”, he told the functionaries of Power Development Department stressing on strengthening Call Centres and Grievance Redressal Units recently established at the two Data Centres inaugurated by the Chief Minister under R-APDRP at Srinagar and Jammu in the last week.
The Chief Minister said that remarkable measures have been taken during the last five and the half years of his government to address power development both on generation and distribution fronts. He said as against 750 MW projects including Baglihar-I of 450 MW capacity completed in the State since 1947 to 2008, his government initiated generation of 1600 MWs capacity hydro electric projects in last five and the half years while projects of 2220 MW capacity are ready to be awarded for construction.
Omar Abdullah said that power sector has unfortunately remained political target in the State as such the tremendous work done and improvement registered in the generation and distribution during the last five and the half years has got over shadowed by the propaganda. He said his government has enhanced power supply by 46 percent during its tenure so far which is not a joke. He said similarly the quality and the voltage of electricity have been remarkably upgraded while 18500 new transmission lines erected to improve the distribution. He said 2600 MVA transformation capacity has been added by creating new Grid Stations and augmenting existing ones.
The Chief Minister said that there are some 1.50 lakh unregistered consumers getting electricity which is not reflected in the power supply system as such there is high percentage of transformer damages. He said he has asked the department to register all these unregistered consumers and incentivize the performance of grass root paraphernalia including linemen of PDD so that they are encouraged and given incentives for their performance in improving and reforming the distribution system.
Omar Abdullah said that technical as well as human intervention is required to improve and reform the power distribution system and ensure satisfaction of the people. He said before launch of R-APDRP, some elements started propaganda against this initiative carrying false bogy that this programme will add difficulties to consumers. He said that people should understand that R-APDRP is in the best interest of consumers to receive better and uninterrupted electricity and get their grievances redressed as early as possible. “It will not only improve the power distribution network but provide online facility to people to acquire their bills, make payments and have their grievances registered and redressed in shortest possible time”, he said adding that the system will also improve transparency in the revenue collection.
Omar Abdullah said that he has asked the PDD to work out special programme of power tariff for poorer sections of the society with the Finance Department so that they are further benefited on this count. He said presently the State Government is providing 63 percent subsidy on the supply of electricity to consumers while this subsidy to industry is of the order of 40 to 50 percent. He said Jammu and Kashmir is the first State after Sikkim which provides cheapest electricity to its consumers. He said R-APDRP will not only transform the power distribution conditions and infrastructure in the 30 towns of the State including Jammu and Srinagar Cities but its trickledown effect will also benefit other areas which do not fall under this programme.
The Chief Minister asked the PDD to make all efforts to improve its service to public and carry forward the trend of improvement and upgradation process in electricity generation and distribution and other disciplines. He also asked the department to gear up right now for meeting winter eventualities in the Valley on account of damage to the transformers, transmission lines and other installations. “We know there will be snow fall in the winter as such we should be prepared to face its challenge successfully. In this regard you have to be fully prepared undertaking all necessary measures in the summer months”, he added.
