Jammu, Apr 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said a Rs 1900-crore project is under execution to bring down the power transmission and distribution (T&D) losses in the state.
“The government has put R-APDRP schemes to execution to reduce T&D losses by 3 per cent annually,” he said.
Up-gradation and power reforms project R-APDRP has been taken in hand at a cost of Rs 1,909 crore, Abdullah said while inaugurating a power grid station at Ponicheck Jammu. He said the project envisages improvement in high tension and low tension transmission in towns and cities with a population of 10,000 and above.
Seven grid stations have been completed in 2011, while two have been completed this month and another seven are in the pipeline, he said.
He said financial self-reliance of the state is directly linked with harnessing of huge potential of about 20,000 MWs of hydro electricity available in the state.
“My government is working on a comprehensive plan to make remarkable dent in this direction”, he said, adding that considerable thrust is on the generation of power along with up-gradation of distribution and transmission system.
He said in a state where the total income from all resources is Rs 6,500 crore and expenditure on salaries of government employees is Rs 13,500 crore, the only hope for financial self-reliance can be pinned on the power sector. The power grid station at Ponicheck of 50 MVA capacity has 132/33 KV voltage level. The construction of the station is accompanied with the installation of 1.78 km feeding line.
The construction of the station was taken in hand in 2010 at a cost of about Rs 16.72 crore. It will benefit the population of about one lakh inhabitants in Mur and Raipur- Domana constituencies besides people living in Talab Tillo, Trilokpur and adjacent areas. The station will also improve and regulate quality power supply at 33 KV level feeding the sub-transmission system in Tehsil Jammu.
It will relieve the overloading of existing network and grid station at Janipur and Canal.
The transmission line constructed along with the grid station is of 1.7 km long with 7 towers of B+6 and D+0 types.
The Chief Minister said that improvement and up-gradation of power supply to the consumers is being ensured by construction of new grid stations, receiving stations and sub- stations across the state.
He, however, showed concern over the huge transmission losses the State has to bear due to misuse of electricity. He said the yearly losses on account of misuse and transmission leakage of electricity have touched over Rs 2,000 crore which should be serious concern to all.
He said this amount if procured from the consumers could be utilized on various development projects and employment generation for youth.
He asked the consumers to pay the electricity charges in accordance with the consumption they make.
Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmad Khan, Legislators Sukhnandan and Ajay Sadhotra and Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Sudhanshu Pandey were present on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST