Akshay Azad
Jammu, Mar 14: Substantiating the reports published in three editions of Early Time Plus regarding dismal performance of R-APDRP (aiming for improvement of Transmission and distribution system) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Power Secretary has rebuked State Government in hard tone, asking latter to fix the responsibility of officials affecting progress of these projects adversely.
Sources informed Early Time Plus that Power Secretary, Government of India, Uma Shankar (with D.O letter number 02: 10: A-PDRP: 2012: States) has asked Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to fix the responsibility of officers responsible for dismal performance of R-APDRP, aiming at Transmission and Distribution losses reduction. Even the Union Power Secretary has made it clear that the delay in implementation of said schemes may result in non-conversion of load into grant.
Pertinently, Early Time Plus had published a series of reports regarding dismal performance of PMRP, in its editions of March 1, titled "Dismal Performance of PMRP, Only 24.51 % funds spend by PDD for T&D improvement, in March 3rd edition, titled "Dismal implementation of PMRP, RGGVY, R-APDRP by PDD, Tenders undecided for years, affecting works" and in March 4th edition, titled, "Thick skin PDD officials sleep over CM orders of Enquiry".
According to the letter shot by Union Power Secretary Uma Shankar, the Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey the R-APDRP which is a flagship programme of Government of India, aiming at AT&C loss reduction, consisting of Part A( IT and SCADA) and Part-B (distribution system strengthening) is under implementation in J&K.
"You may appreciate that this is a time bound programme and the project should have been completed in 3 years from the date of sanction of scheme, in order to enable conversion of loan into grant, but even after 3 years of sanction of Part A IT projects, the same have not been completed in J&K," the letter said.
The letter further said that DC building was handed over in January 13, but Hardware and Software installation was very slow. "The progress of consumer indexing i.e 4 percent is dismal and only 23 % assets validated by Utility. Award of System Meters at Distribution transformer of 11 towns of Jammu region is pending for a long time. The Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) and award of all 30 numbers, Part-B projects, sanctioned during November 2011 is pending and award of 2 numbers Part-A SCADA projects, sanctioned ruing November 2011 is pending even after evaluation of the bids," the letter reads.
The Union Secretary Power went on to add that the project implementation was being viewed very seriously, which might result in non-conversion of loan into grant. "You may agree that there is a need to fix responsibility of officials affecting progress of these projects adversely" the letter maintained.
Union Secretary Umar Shankar has sought personal intervention of Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey, in expediting the progress of programme in J&K. |
