New Delhi, Oct 30: Stating that the Central Electricity Act 2003 is not applicable to J&K, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the state has enacted its own J&K Electricity Act, 2010 on the lines of Central Electricity Act 2003. “The State Electricity Regulatory Commission is in place since 2004 and has already notified Open Access Regulations in 2006,” he said, adding that “our hydel policy also provides for open access. The Tariff Orders are also being issued by the State Electricity Regulatory Commission on regular intervals.” Omar said the Tariff Policy and State Electricity Policy, in pursuance to section 3 of J&K State Electricity Act 2010 on the lines of Central Tariff Policy and Central Electricity Policy, are under preparation and shall be notified shortly.  “We are at in the process of formulation of rules of J&K Electricity Act 2010. Besides, J&K Energy Conservation Act is also underway.” Omar was addressing a meeting of Group of Ministers for Power of different states of the country here. Union Minister of Power, Sushil Kumar Shinde was present in the meeting. With a view to overcome the operational inefficiencies leading to high AT&C losses, the government had engaged a consultant - M/s The Energy & Resources Institute, New Delhi – for preparing a blueprint for bringing about a turnaround in power sector.
 “M/s TERI in its recommendations has emphasized the need to bring about changes in legal framework in this sector, besides underlying the need for structural un-bundling of the Power Development Department,” Omar said.  The Chief Minister said J&K has initiated action on the implementation of the recommendations of the engaged consultant. The milestones achieved in pursuit of the turnaround include enactment of J&K State Electricity Act 2010 on the lines of Central Electricity Act 2003, unbundling of transmission & distribution approved by State Cabinet, RFP for engagement of consultant (in consultation with M/s TERI) for unbundling of T&D in J&K to be floated shortly and State Electricity Regulatory Commission made fully functional.
 The Chief Minister reiterated the urgent need to initiate measures to mitigate the hardships of the people of J&K by way of liberally allocating funds for the State sector projects and by implementing recommendations in this behalf of various Working Groups constituted under the aegis of the PM’s Round Table Conferences on J&K.  The Chief Minister said the State government has started implementation of 450 MW Baglihar HEP Stage-II at an estimated cost of Rs.3420 crores. “We have requested Centre to extend the same level of financial assistance for the execution of Baglihar Stage-II as was done in case of Baglihar HEP–I,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST