Electricity mess in J&K, PDD hiding its failures

Nitesh Sangral
JAMMU, Jan 19: Power development departments (PDD) seems to be using excuses to hide its inability to reform the power sector in Jammu and Kashmir as despite pumping crores of rupees in reforming this sector it is still in very bad shape. Take the case of installation of e-meters in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent the misuse of electricity by the consumers; it has failed in its mission as most of the areas though covered by these meters have so far failed to prevent ‘Bijli Choori”. There are many areas in the city were this menace is prevalent, these include Bishnah, Janipur, old city, Sanjay Nagar, Preet Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Nanak Nagar and Greater Kailash. Since 2004, when the state government started a massive project to streamline the power sector in Jammu and Kashmir, PDD had taken many steps to curb the power losses and increase the revenue collection, but it has remained a failure. Two years back Department had brought nearly 5000 Meter Reading Instruments (MRI) under the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (APDRP) to check the tempering with the e-meters, the department failed to use these as they did not train staff to handle these instruments. Nearly six lakh e-meters have been installed in Jammu and Kashmir since the power reforms were initiated, after the intense pressure from the central government and Northern Grid. The aim of the reforms was to check the misuse of the electricity and make the revenue recovery a norm among the people. As the installation of e-meters also failed to curtail the power losses in the state, PDD in a last ditch effort decided to seek help of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2009 to install High Voltage Distribution System to curtail theft of electricity, but that project also could not be carried out properly. At present Accumulated Transmission and Commercial (AT&C) losses is nearly 63 per cent. During 2004-05 about 24052 households were brought under the e-meters in J&K, similarly in 2005-06, 42129 meters were installed in both the regions of the state, later in 2006-07 it reached upto 149206 meters. However despite efforts the process failed to achieve its intended target and the entire process had not made much impact and power losses have continued to rise. Further nearly 23,500 electronic meters were damaged by the mob across the Jammu province during the 63 days long agitation over Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) land row causing a loss of Rs 2.46 crore to the State exchequer and they are also being replaced by the department in phased manner. PDD authorities blamed to so many areas of the people to use Kundis, heaters and other electronic things using heavy and a lot number of electricity wastes. Official’s source, said that the power cuts are due to the overloading of electricity. He also said that the department has made a team of higher officials to inspect the theft of power in the city. If anybody caught in theft of electricity will face strict action against him. Interestingly, huge number of government offices in the Jammu city they are continuing using wasting electricity. According to survey, the government offices one room use two room heaters but PDD authorities not blaming them. Raj Singh resident of Trikta Nagar said that the power imported from different parts of the country, besides Northern Grid, was not enough to meet the demand, particularly during evening period. When contacted Chief Engineer PDD Mohd Qazmi he refused to comment.