Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: As power pilferage is putting a huge burden on Jammu and Kashmir's exchequer, authorities are set to launch a major crackdown against influential power thieves across the newly carved out Union Territory.
Sources told Early Times that Centre has decided to set the ailing power sector right in J&K UT. "Many steps have been taken to improve the power sector in the UT," they added.
Sources said that the Centre intends to reform the system by installing two lakh smart meters that would reduce AT&C losses and improve the quality of power supply across J&K. "The government will take all necessary measures to reduce the AT&C losses from present 49 percent to levels comparable to the national average," said one of the top officials.
Sources said that a major crackdown is on cards against power thieves, including influential persons and institutions, who are habitual offenders.
After the abrogation of Article 370, the administration has decided to implement the project on 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, they added.
As per the Census 2010-11, the number of households in J&K were 20,15,088 of which 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 which needs to be resolved. 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.
The official said that 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.
The official maintained that strengthening of enforcement and 100% metering are some of the key objectives of the Central Government. |
