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| PDD draws Rs 130Cr plan to ‘plug in’ losses | | | ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 31: Even as the State Government’s much-ambitious e-metering project has failed to check complete power theft, the Power Development Department (PDD) has drafted Rs 130 crore plan of “fencing” under Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP) to improve financial viability of state power utilities, besides stopping power pilferage.
According to official sources, the project would be given practical shape in next three months and be implemented in 30 towns of the State, viz 11 towns in Jammu province and 19 towns in Kashmir Province, in first phase. Sources said that the project may be extended to other towns after the assessment of its feasibility.
Sources further revealed that the PDD so far has realized Rs 350 crore as revenue collection against the set target of Rs 511 crore from Jammu province for current financial year, adding that all measures to contain power pilferage have proved ineffective due to “large scale corruption” in the department.
“As per the fencing plan, sensitive meters would be installed on all outlets and inlets at Receiving Stations to check inflow and outflow of power for restoring the commercial viability of the Distribution Stations,” maintained sources.
Talking to the Early Times, Mohammad Qasim, Chief Engineer PDD Jammu, said that the plan has been designed to ensure 100 per cent check on power theft here. “Though we installed e-meters on residential and commercial places, the complete success over power pilferage has yet not been achieved. The plan has been drafted in such a way so that the department improves consumers’ satisfaction, besides increasing reliability and quality of power supply,” he said.
“Highly sensitive meters would be installed on inlets and outlets at receiving stations to keep a record on inflow and outflow of power on such stations. After getting the readings of these sensitive meters, the department will get exact feed back of power consumption in a particular locality. It would helpful in checking power theft in great way,” the Chief Engineer informed.
He said that the project would initially be launched in 30 towns in the State while it would be implemented in other towns also.
“Soon after implementation of this project in the State, the department would focus on revenue collection. It may outsource the revenue collection process or engage more persons for this task,” Qasim said, adding that the department would allow anyone to involve in malpractice of power theft.
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