MHA keeps close watch on J&K power sector, seeks monthly updates

Srinagar, Apr 28:  Amid prolonged power cuts across Kashmir, even in spring when the electricity situation is usually better, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department to provide monthly updates on five key achievable points related to the power sector.

The move comes as Kashmir grapples with a power crisis, with outages lasting 8 to 10 hours in some areas.

The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has admitted to a deficit in power supply and demand.

According to a top Power Development Department (PDD) official, the MHA will review J&K’s progress on these five achievable points every month.

One of the main concerns highlighted is the staggering revenue deficit of Rs 5000 crore faced by the PDD, which officials deem unsustainable.

“Post-August 2019, power corporations operating in J&K cannot sustain such huge recurring losses. Therefore, the administration has asked both power corporations of J&K to improve revenue realisation,” the official said. “Addressing the revenue deficit is a top priority, and the department has been instructed to focus on various measures to boost revenue collection. These include implementing a power amnesty scheme, conducting continuous revenue realisation drives to compel consumers to pay outstanding dues, and holding division and sub-division-wise meetings to improve revenue collection.”

Another key actionable point is making serious efforts to curb power losses through inspections, disconnections, and filing FIRs for power theft.

The imposition of heavy penalties on power thieves is also being emphasised.

Sources said that to tackle the issue of non-metered consumers, the department has been directed to ensure the immediate installation of available conventional meters in non-metered areas, with a focus on locations where LT-AB cable has been laid but not charged yet.

Implementation of the Smart Metering Project under RDSS, which shall cover the remaining 6.95 lakh consumers in Kashmir, load revision of the sanctioned load of non-metered consumers as per actual consumption in a calibrated manner.

“The department has also been instructed to expedite the pre-paid conversion of Smart Meter consumers under Phase-II of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and bring down losses on feeders where Smart Meters have been installed, with a focus on billing efficiency,” the official said. “Furthermore, the MHA has emphasised the need to improve the billing and collection efficiency of all feeders, with Feeder Managers and their support teams being directly responsible for monitoring feeder-wise recovery. Lastly, the department has been directed to ensure energy auditing and maintain a balance between input and billed energy to improve overall revenue realisation.”