Early Times Report
Jammu, June 4: Union Government is unhappy over the failure of the J&K government to control Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in the power sector. T&D losses in J&K continue to be highest in India so the center has reason to be expressed concern over it.
Highly placed sources said that during a meeting held today to review the progress of installing smart meters in J&K, Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla emphasized on the need of controlling T&D losses in J&K.
Bhalla today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of Smart Metering roll out and power sector reforms in the Union Territories (UTs). Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K represented UT of J&K in the meeting.
The Union Home Secretary observed that the ‘Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme’ which was announced by the Union Finance Minister during the budget speech (FY 2021-22) focusses mainly on reforms in the sector. He underscored that the scheme aims to improve the quality and reliability of power su CS assures to start smart metering on mission mode
Giving a brief on the proposal for the rollout of Smart Metering in J&K, Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta informed that the Government of Jammu & Kashmir would take up smart metering in mission mode. He said that the UT Government is committed to complete the said work within the stipulated time. He further informed that nearly 2/3rd of the energy consumption of the UT was in urban areas and industrial towns and the same shall be prioritized in this mission.
He said thrust on smart metering is one of the distinguishing features of the scheme, adding that the smart metering is to be rolled out in a mission mode in the Union territories (UTs), which shall eventually become a model for other states of the country. Sources said that Union Government is emphasising on completing the process of installing smart meters as early as possible to control power pilferage.
As per data, Jammu and Kashmir has over 50 percent transmission and distribution losses, while the national average is around 30 percent.
The neighbouring states of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh have 20, 21, and 19 percent T&D losses, respectively.
The J&K has failed to bring down the T&D losses despite a hike in power tariff of over 200 percent in the last decade in the state.
The union government has directed the JK government to improve revenue recovery and check the pilferage, a major cause of T&D losses. | 