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| Restructured R-APDRP | | | Vikram Gour | 4/5/2012 10:53:39 PM |
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Restructured R-APDRP if planned, executed and utilised honestly can change entire power scenario in J&K.
In view of the large scale T&D losses, much beyond
any accepted norms in many power Utility Services in the different states in the country especially in J&K (JKPDD) where the T&D losses continuously for years now hovered around 65-70%, the Ministry of Power GOI has put forth 'Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Program (R-APDRP) a scheme of Govt. of India for XI Plan with revised terms and conditions as aCentral Sector Scheme. The focus of the program is on actual, demonstrable performance in terms of sustained loss reduction.
Establishment of reliable and automated systems for sustained collection of accurate base line data, and for adoption of Information Technology in the areas of energy accounting will be essential before taking up the regular Distribution Strengthening Projects.
The work under the scheme needs to be monitored personally by the Chief Minister, being the Power Minister himself also because huge expenditure is involved in execution of the projects under the scheme. The earlier experience of spending huge allocations by GOI for such projects have not been very healthy/encouraging.
The scheme consists of two parts described as under:
Part (A):Preparation of Base-line data for the project area covering Consumer Indexing, GIS Mapping, Metering of Distribution Transformers and Feeders, and Automatic Data Logging for all Distribution Transformers and Feeders and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCA DA),only in the project area having more than 4 lacs population and annual input energy of the order of 350 MU. It would include asset mapping of the entire distribution network at and below 11-kV transformers and include Distribution Transformers and Feeders, Low Tension lines, poles and other distribution network equipment. It will also include adoption of IT applications for meter reading, billing & collection, energy accounting & auditing, MIS, redressal of consumer grievances, establishment of IT enabled consumer service centers etc. The base line data and required system shall be verified by an independent agency appointed by the Ministry of Power.
Part (B): Renovation, modernization and strengthening of 11 kV level substations, transformers/transformer centers, re-conductoring of lines at 11-kV level and below, load bifurcation, feeder separation, Load balancing, HVDS (11kV), Aerial Bunched Conductoring (ABC) in dense areas, replacement of electromagnetic energy meters with tamper proof electronics meters, installation of capacitor banks and mobile service centers etc. In exceptional cases, where sub-transmission system is weak, strengthening at 33 kV or 66 kV levels may also be considered. The HVDS and ABC systems are tamper proof in the sense that hooking of the lines is not possible.
These two systems have been successfully implemented in other distribution utilities of the country and these utilities have achieved considerable loss reduction through these two techniques.
The Power Finance Corporation (PFC) will be the 'Nodal Agency' for the operati onalisation and implementation of the R-APDRP program, under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Power (MOP). PFC will act as a single window service and will coordinate with the main stakeholders involved such as MOP, Steering committee, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Financial Institutions, utility (JKPDD) and various consultants.
The scheme will be funded by Government of India. The entire amount of GOI loan (100%) for part A of the project shall be converted into grant after establishment of the required Base-Line data system within a stipulated time frame and duly verified by Third Party Independent Evaluating Agency (TPIEA).
Up to 90% loan for part-B projects shall be converted into grant in five equal tranches on achieving targeted AT&C loss in the project areas duly verified by TPIEA on a suitable basis for a period of five years. If the utility fails to achieve or sustain the targeted AT&C loss target in a particular year, that year's tranche of conversion of loan to grant will be reduced in proportion to the shortfall in achieving targeted loss reduction. Under R-APDRP scheme 30-Towns have been identified as project areas in J&K State with population of above 10,000 as per 2001 census. Out of 30-towns,11-towns are in Jammu region including Jammu City and 19 towns in Kashmir region including Srinagar City. These towns are as under:
Akhnoor, Anantnag, Budgam, Bandipore, Baramulla, Bhade rwah, Bijbehara, Doda, Duru-Verinag, Ganderbal, Handwara, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Kupwara, Leh, Pattan, Pulwama, Poonch, Rajouri, RanbirSinghpora, Samba, Shopian, Sopore, Srinagar, Sumbal, Tral and Udhampur.
Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) prepared Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) in two parts (i.e. Part-A & Part-B) for each of the project areas. JKPDD appointed M/S CMC, as IT Consultants through bidding from an open bidding process from the panel of IT Consultants. M/S CMC assisted the department in preparation of Part-A project reports. Part-B project reports have been prepared departmentally. Part A project reports have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 191.25 Crors and Part-B project reports at a cost of Rs. 1665.27 Crores by Ministry of Power. JKPDD has outsourced Part-A works through transparent bidding process to M/S Wipro, the IT implementing agency on 'turnkey basis' which is a welcome step.
The IT implementing agency has already taken up GIS, asset mapping, consumer indexing, software development etc in the identified towns. The achievements under Part-A are being evaluated by Third Party Independent Evaluating Agency (TPIEA) appointed by Ministry of Power. Besides JKPDD has also appointed M/S NDPL as consultants for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).
NDPL has prepared DPRs for SCADA which have been approved by MOP at an estimated cost of Rs. 52.89 Corers. The engagement of SCADA implementing agency is under progress. With the aid of SCADA, JKPDD will be in a position to control and monitor all Receiving Stations in Jammu and Srinagar cities from Control Centers to be established in these two cities. Although MOP/PFC have taken concrete measures for implementing of Part-A of the scheme, like empanelment of IT consultants and IT implementing agencies and inspection by TPIEA. It seems that loopholes have been left in the Part-B of the scheme.
This may be due to the fact that quality of conventional distribution works may not be a problem in urban areas in other parts of the country. For Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) works also MOP/REC has put a credible institutional mechanism in place under which the materials and works are being inspected through a three tier quality monitoring system.
Under the 10th Plan APDRP scheme for Rs. 785-Corers were spent in J&K state and infrastructure in the shape of R/Stations, Distribution transformers and lines at 33kV, 11kV and LT came up without any visible impact as the quality of works suffered immensely.
These works were mostly carried out departmentally and the inspection of the works was got dispensed with by the vested interests. Today more than 95% works constructed under APDRP await clearance by the Inspection Agency of JKPDD. With the result that we have lines and sub stations without stau-Guys, Earthings, Guard Netting, V-Cross arms, Danger Plates, Lightening Arresters etc. Meters were installed without meter boards, Cut-Out/MC CBs, Earthing Terminal at Consumer installation, service lines without bearer-wire and spool insulators etc. Although, these requirements are mandatory under J&K Electricity Rules and REC Standards yet these were given a go by. Under rule 5 of the J&K Electricity Rules no new line or equipment can be energized unless it is inspected and cleared by the Inspection Wing of JKPDD yet this rule was deliberately ignored while executing APDRP works. It is due to the deviations from standards that the accident rate due to faulty electrical infrastructure is one of the highest in the country.
This network is also fragile and does not even withstand light wind/rainfall, snow fall or wind storm.
The Chief Minister who heads the Power Portfolio will take appropriate steps to ensure that the utility JKPDD is forced to learn from the mistakes of the past and should outsource all the works under Part-B of the scheme as has been done for Part-A of the scheme, RGGVY works and Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan (PMRP).
The quality of outsourced works should be ensured by putting three tier quality monitoring system in place comprising of internal quality monitoring system of the contractor, the third party quality monitoring by a reputed private agency to be engaged through transparent bidding process and thirdly statutory inspection by the Inspection Wing of the Department. The department should also outsource design, engineering and monitoring to private agencies through transparent bidding process.
However, design review should be conducted by the Planning and Design Wing (P&D) which is the premier engineering wing of JKPDD. Adequate resources like computerization and availability of licensed design software in the P&D wing should also be ensured well in advance.
The government may also entrust the tendering under R-APDRP works to Planning and Design Wing as the wing has been involved in tendering of 66kV and above equipments successfully since decades besides normal engineering works.
It is well known that whenever the works are taken up departmentally, the vested interests in PDD side lines the P&D wing which affects the quality of works immensely.
It is, therefore, felt that if adequate measures, right at the initial stage, are not taken, R-APDRP may also prove failure like APDRP as far as reliability of network, safety and T&D loss reduction is concerned. |
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