Srinagar, Apr 1: With work on second stage of the Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Program (R-APDRP) in Jammu and Kashmir likely to start soon, experts call for outsourcing the program for its “better execution.”
 “Outsourcing the work will come with merits as the executing agency will be accountable for implementation,” said an official in Power Development Department (PDD). “It is usually not the case if projects are implemented by the departments themselves,” he said.
 The second phase of R-APDRP costing Rs 1700 crore is aimed at improving power distribution system in targeted 30 towns and cities including Srinagar and Jammu.
 A senior official said the PDD intends to implement the second stage by itself.  “In such a case we cannot rule out compromise on the standards of the work,” the source said.  “It would be better if the project is outsourced on turnkey basis to outside agency under third party monitoring,” the sources said.
 The first stage of the project which has been outsourced to leading IT and business transformation services provider Wipro, is almost complete, sources said. The second stage will be taken in the upcoming days of the next financial year. While 19 towns including Leh and Ladakh will be covered under the R-APDRP in Kashmir, 11 towns are aimed under the program in Jammu region. The multi-crore assistance under the second phase of the R-APDRP follows Rs 191crore assistance to JK under the first phase of the program. The first phase involves setting up Data Centre, Disaster (Data) Recovery Center, Centralized Customer Care Call Center, GIS based customer indexing and asset mapping and GIS survey in the identified towns and achieving e-management in power distribution and other initiatives.
 The second phase focuses on revamping and modernization of entire Electricity Distribution System to reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, prevent distress load shedding, 100 percent metering of domestic consumers, HT metering of commercial and industrial consumers and whole range of initiatives to modernize the infrastructure in the sector. “Increasing efficiency in the power sector is aim of the entire programme. If implemented properly the program will change the power scenario for the better in the targeted areas,” said an official. The entire scheme is targeted for completion in five to six years. The ever-increasing T&D losses and AT&C losses have been a major worry for the state government as they continue to put huge strain on the state finances.
 Meanwhile, the state government said it has constituted a high-level state distribution Reforms Committee for effective monitoring and implementation of R-APDRP scheme.
 Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora told the Legislative Council Thursday that the Reforms Committee is headed by the Chief Secretary.
 The Minister said government is formulating a project report for extension of R-APDRP to towns and other areas where under an area (town and village) with a population of 4,000 and above is proposed to be covered.
 The project will be sent to the Union Ministry of Power for funding, he said adding as per R-APDRP guideline in vogue, any town with population of 10,000 and above in a special category state qualifies for inclusion under R-APDRP.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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