Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 14: The Central Government has released Rs 1665.27 crores for initiating major power reforms in Jammu and Kashmir. The first phase of reforms would cover strengthening infrastructure in 30 towns of the State including 17 in the Kashmir valley, 11 in Jammu and two in Ladakh.
The grant was aimed at installation of sophisticated multi-purpose cables to plug leakages and heavy transformers capable of carrying maximum load. A check on Transmission and Distribution losses in the State, which continued to hover over 60 per cent in the State, was part of the grant.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Government of India has released Rs 1665.27 crores worth grant for initiating power reforms in the State, which has worst history of huge gap between power purchase and revenue with total liability of the State on account of power standing at Rs 6000 crores.
Out of Rs 1665.27 crores worth grant, Rs 889.56 crores have been earmarked for 19 towns of Kashmir division (Ladakh included) while Rs 775.71 crores were sanctioned for 11 towns of Jammu region.
“Among 30 towns selected for power reforms, the maximum grant of Rs 669.36 crores has been kept for Srinagar City and Rs 610.48 crores for Jammu City,’’ sources said.
The special Central grant has been given under Re-structured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (RAPDRP).
Sources said the State Government has decided to utilize the grant for laying multi-purpose cable in 30 towns, which will completely plug the chances of power pilferage by the people. The cable is being laid by IRCON Railways, sources said, adding the State Government has taken up the matter with the Railways Ministry and IRCON for expediting work of strengthening power infrastructure in 30 towns of the State.
The Railways Ministry and the IRCON, the executing agency has assured the Government that the work on cable laying would be expedited and completed within the stipulated period.
Sources said both Central and State Governments were concerned about increased T&D losses in Jammu and Kashmir and frequent burning of transformers due to excess load and other factors. Through the special grant under the RAPDRP, the Centre wants the T&D losses and pilferage of power to be plugged by laying multi-purpose cable.
“The pilferage of power would become impossible once the new cables are laid. It will also reduce burden on the transformers, thus, averting their frequent burning. Some new and heavy transformers would also be installed from the funds approved by the Centre,’’ sources said.
The town wise funds approved in Jammu region included Jammu City (Rs 610.48 crores), Kathua (Rs 62.41 crores), Udhampur (Rs 25.83 crores), Akhnoor (Rs 13.64 crores), Bhaderwah (Rs 6.75 crores), Doda (Rs 7.28 crores), Kishtwar (Rs 7.42 crores), Poonch (Rs 7.74 crores), Rajouri (Rs 11.72 crores), RS Pura (Rs 12.36 crores) and Samba (Rs 10.08 crores).
In the Kashmir valley, Srinagar City has got the lion’s share with Rs 669.36 crores followed by Sopore with Rs 36.38 crores, Baramulla Rs 32.8 crores and Anantnag Rs 31.54 crores. Grants approved for other towns included Bandipora (Rs 8.4 crores), Bijbehara (Rs 8.62 crores), Budgam (Rs 10.15 crores), Dooru-Verinag (Rs 4.54 crores), Ganderbal (Rs 15.96 crores), Handwara (Rs 7.39 crores), Kulgam (Rs 6.16 crores), Kupwara (Rs 7.39 crores), Pattan (Rs 4.57 crores), Pulwama (Rs 11.79 crores), Shopian (Rs 6.65 crores), Sumbal (Rs 4.7 crores) and Tral (Rs 5.96 crores).
Leh and Kargil towns in Ladakh district have been allocated Rs 9.3 crores and Rs 7.9 crores respectively within the Kashmir division.
Sources said the exercise to identify the towns and allocate funds for improving power infrastructure in the State was undertaken during previous National Conference-Congress Government and it was in view of this that number of towns from Jammu region was less.
“As number of towns selected from Jammu region was less, the allocations were also less as compared to Kashmir,’’ they added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel