Jammu, Feb 6: Centre has reprimanded the Jammu and Kashmir government over the “slow implementation” of Restructured-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) in 30 identified towns of the state—the programme aims at to contain the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses by upgrading the power infrastructure.
 Sources said Union Power Ministry had sanctioned nearly Rs 1700 crore to the government under R-APDRP in October last year, of which Rs 119 crore were released instantly as the first instalment to take up up-gradation of  the grid stations, transmission lines and feeders to cap the T&D losses.
 If sources are to be believed, a major part of the funds has been diverted to other areas, which has annoyed the centre.
 They said the state has received strict warning from the union government for flouting the guidelines and going with slow pace in improvement works.
 The project was cleared by the Steering Committee of the Union Ministry of Power, which was to be implemented in two parts (A&B) to cover towns with more than ten thousand population as per the census of 2001.
 “The second phase of reforms may face the same fate that happened to it in past, despite the fact that power losses have become a major drain on the resources of the state – an issue of constant friction between Planning Commission of India (PCI) and state”, said a source.
 Pertinently, under the APDRP, the Union Government had already given Rs 3900 crore to the State from 2002 onwards for carrying out reforms in the power sector. However, the government here spent most of it to purchase power to meet the growing demands of electricity in the state, leaving little for carrying out reforms.
 The R-APDRP is phase second of the project, aimed to cap the T&D losses.
 “The problem is that the state has not been able to strictly implement the reforms and instead has made mere cosmetic measures to deal with the crisis. Even the e-metering project has been left midway, taken up about eight years back”, said an official.
 Under APDRP, J&K has to prepare base-line data for consumer indexing, GIS mapping, metering of distribution transformers and feeders and automatic data logging for all distribution transformers and feeders.
 The R-APDRP, Phase II of the centrally sponsored project funds were to be used for renovation, modernization and strengthening of 11 KV level sub-stations, transformers, transformer centers, load balancing HVDS and laying of Aerial Bunched Conductoring in urban centres of the state.
 However when contacted, Minister for State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan said that reforms are going on as planned and any small hiccup is being sorted out.
 “Reforms initiated by the state are going as planned and if there are any loopholes, they are being sorted out. Government is committed to lower T&D losses”, he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
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