There were voices of concern being heard from all across about developing state’s power sector atleast to that extent that the transmission and distribution losses are somehow curtailed. Despite the change of guard, the much hyped insulation project is gathering dust, unfortunately. There are reports which reveal that there has been no progress over the plan which the government mooted in the recent past under which the cables supplying power to JK households could be insulated. In the past, the government announced to start the insulation project in Srinagar and Jammu cities in the first phase and latter it could be developed into a mega plan. But the project again has been shelved with no progress over its implementation likely to be made in future as well. Interestingly, the huge T&D losses since early 90s have affected power sector adversely and the Jammu and Kashmir as it is the only state in In- dia, where about 70 percent energy is lost due to power pilferage and trans- mission and distribution losses.
Reportedly the transmission and distribution losses were highest (65.78) percent for 2009-10, 60.99 percent for 2010-11 and around 59.72 percent for last fiscal year. The scheme will be implemented in two phases which will cover entire state. For the first phase of the project, the Central government has sanctioned Rs.151.99 crores under R- APDRP while an amount of 1665.27 crores has been approved for the sec0nd phase of this vital project.
“ For this purpose, the government has already taken a pilot exercise and some 30 towns have been identified as project areas in J&K, another 283 towns with population of over 4000 have also been identified that will be covered in the second phase. Phase -1 of 283 towns is to cost Rs. 171.61 crores and phase-2 will cost Rs. 1073.33 crores. These projects were proposed to be taken up under Phase-II of R-APDRP through a special dispensation which could not materialize,” reads the document. ”
“The second phase will cover two main cities including Jammu and Srinagar for which the funds estimated at the cost of Rs. 52,89crores have been approved,” reads the document. These schemes are proposed to be taken up under National Electricity Fund for which Rural Electrification Corporation is the nodal agency. Un- der this scheme 30 towns have been identified as project areas in J&K state with population of above 10,000 as per 2001 census “For this purpose, the government has already taken a pilot exercise and some 30 towns have been identified as project areas in J&K, another 283 towns with population of over 4000 have also been identified that will be covered in the second phase.
Phase -1 of 283 towns is to cost Rs. 171.61 crores and phase-2 will cost Rs. 1073.33 crores. These projects were proposed to be taken up under Phase- II of R-APDRP through a special dis- pensation which could not materialize,” reads the document. Further Phase -1 is to cover Ring Fencing, Feeder Metering, DT Metering, application of Information Technology and supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) /DMS in distribution sector while Phase-2 is aimed to strengthen Distribution System in identified project areas. When contacted Chief Engineer, PDD Bashir Ahmad Khan said that that the scheme has been sanctioned and will be completed within a time period of two years.
