Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Nov 3: The process of restructuring and rebundling of Power Development Department (PDD) has reached crucial stage with the incorporation of the newly formed entities — J&K Power Transmission Company Ltd (J&K Transco) and J&K Power Transmission Company Ltd (J&K Tradeco). Further, the Article of Association, which dwells upon the purpose of these companies as well as the duties and responsibilities of its members, is also likely to be registered within few days.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that after the registration of these Companies, the State Government has set into motion the process of appointment of functional Directors and other required posts like Company Secretaries and Finance and HR personnel, etc as per the statutory requirements.
As per the proposal, J&K Tradeco will be the bulk supplier to the distribution companies and will perform the trading activity for power. The Trading Company will have equity in two Distribution Companies – one each for Jammu and Kashmir province including Ladakh region. The Utility will have a full-time Managing Director and two Directors for Operations and Finance respectively.
The Distribution Companies will comprise full time Functional Directors & Board Members. The proposed structure for the two successor Distribution Companies included one Managing Director (each for Jammu and Kashmir) and four Directors heading Operations, Projects, Finance & Accounts and Human Resource & Administration. There would be separate Chief Engineers for Distribution, Projects, Procurement & Material Management while as there would be an independent Chief Engineer for Ladakh region.
The Transmission Utility — Transco would be responsible for the transmission and load dispatch functions in the State while having a separate State Load Dispatch Unit (SLDC) headed by SE. The Company will have several senior posts including Director (Oper-ations), Director (Projects), Director (Finance & Acco-unts), General Manager (Human Resources & Administration) and SE (State Load Dispatch Centre). The entity will also have two Chief-Engineers (Operations & Maintenance) and one Chief for Planning, Engineering & Projects.
Official sources said that after the incorporation of these utilities, the State Government can achieve various financial institutions of the country for raising funds required for early implementation of the reforms in power sector. “This wasn’t the case earlier, when the State was entirely dependent on the Planning Commission for its financial resources pertaining to the power sector. As funds start pouring in, the Government will push the pace of power reforms”, sources asserted.
The State Government had already initiated its efforts for getting institutional finance for the power sector. “Recently, the State had submitted documents for funding of nearly Rs 1200 crores before Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), a NAVRATNA Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Power for the same”, sources stated.
When contacted, Principal Secretary Power, Sudhanshu Pandey told EXCELSIOR that the State has approached several institutions to arrange finance for early implementation of power reforms. “With liberal funding, we will be in a position to provide better infrastructure to the power consumers of the State”, he said, adding, “these restructured companies would strive towards achieving objective of an uninterrupted supply of safe and affordable power while complying with performance standards”.
In order to reduce the Aggregated Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and outages besides ensuring customer satisfaction, the State Government has also decided to introduce Smart Grid Technology and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between Power Development Department and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) to develop consumer-utility interactive Smart Grid in various areas of the State. Initially, four towns-Katra, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Leh are being taken on pilot basis.
Realizing increased complexities in every segment of the entire electricity value chain, the State Government has felt it prudent to adopt Smart Grid applications to facilitate efficient and reliable end-to-end intelligent two-way delivery systems from source to end-user through integration of renewable energy sources, smart transmission and distribution systems, energy efficiency and demand-supply forecasting.
For this purpose, sources said that the PGCIL will raise funds from the financial institutions on behalf of the Power Development Department and the improved revenue following use of Smart Grid Technology will be utilized to clear the funds raised from financial institutions.
The State Cabinet in its meeting on August 30 this year had granted approval for the incorporation of the Transmission Company, Distribution Companies for Jammu and Kashmir provinces and Trading-cum-holding Company.
Thereafter, the Cabinet on October 10 this year had also accorded sanction to the creation of 165 posts in different categories in the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department With this arrangement, the sanctioned strength of the posts of Chief Engineers has increased from seven to eight, Superintendent Engineers from 21 to 43 and of Executive Engineers from 86 to 119.
“It was after almost 25 years that such number of posts had been created in the Department”, sources asserted.
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