APDRP fails to create much impact in J&K Not much progress made in Improvement of T&D network

APDRP fails to create much impact in J&K
Not much progress made in Improvement of T&D network
Nitesh Sangral
JAMMU, Apr 25: Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (APDRP), a multi-ended centrally sponsored power reforms oriented scheme, has failed to create much impact in Jammu and Kashmir, the reason being that one of its major component of improving the power distribution network in the state have not witnessed much progress, particularly in the urban areas. In vogue for the last six years here and elsewhere in the country, the scheme envisages to improve the financial viability of state power utilities, affect reduction in transmission and distribution losses, particularly urban and high population density areas and increasing reliability and quality of power supply. The State of Jammu and Kashmir despite getting nearly Rs 500 crore in past six years under the scheme, the state could not made desirable progress in the replacement of worn and old Transmission and Distribution network, considered as the main cause of T&D losses, sources said .” The power supply lines in the state, that account for major pilferages, particularly in urban were not changed thus diminishing the impact the scheme was expected to create”, said an expert. Besides being a source of huge power losses, expert say that the worn-out cables through which the electricity is supplied to most of the city laid three decades ago have become a threat for the people, particularly living in congested areas of the city. Sources said that although nearly 2160 km of power lines have been changed but most of the urban centers have remained untouched putting lives of thousands of the people at stake. “Stress was more on changing the 33 KV and 11 KV power lines and improving the infrastructure in rural areas, but priority areas like urban centers have received less attention under the programme”, said an official source. He said that even the much talked about lying of Coded cables project in the interior areas of Jammu city has remained on papers for the high cost involved for the same. However, a senior officer said that transmission lines cannot be changed in one go and they will receive more funds to bring about more changes and development in the basic infrastructure, including the modernisation works. “Under APDRP many areas were covered but it will take some time before there is total overhaul of the transmission lines and other infrastructure”, said the officer. “Power losses are more in the urban areas due to the heavy concentration of population and poor infrastructure and till this is reformed there cannot be any change”, said a Divisional Engineer. Notably, most of the localities in city like Nanak Nagar, Gandhi nagar, Janipur and old city, electric cables have been laid around three decades back but have received little attention despite increase in the population.