Srinagar, Oct 19 (KNS): Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, MLA and Chairman of the Committee on Estimates, on Monday chaired a meeting of the committee at the Legislative Assembly to review the power scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, with emphasis on timely completion of projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

The meeting was attended by legislators Javid Hassan Baig, Mushtaq Guroo, Irshad Rasool Kar, Sajad Shaheen and Mian Mehar Ali, besides Secretary Assembly Manoj Kumar Pandit and officials of the Assembly Secretariat.

Officers of the Power Development Department (PDD) briefed the committee on the physical and financial progress under RDSS, PMDP and other flagship schemes, covering budget utilisation, grid augmentation and power procurement.

The Chairman said smart metering would streamline billing, improve collection efficiency and provide relief to consumers. He also reviewed renewable energy initiatives under PM-KUSUM and rooftop solar schemes, along with electrification of unconnected border hamlets.

He sought a clear timeline for achieving 100 per cent grid connectivity and ensuring a stable off-grid power supply in areas where extending the grid was not feasible.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Committee members raised concerns over high AT&C losses, delays in smart metering, unscheduled power cuts, billing disputes and the slow replacement of bare conductors with Aerial Bunched Cables.

With winter approaching, the Chairman stressed the need for adequate preparedness, including sufficient reserves of distribution transformers and deployment of quick-response teams in snow-bound and far-flung areas to prevent prolonged power outages.

The committee directed the department to submit, within a fortnight, circle-wise AT&C loss data, complaint resolution figures, outstanding liabilities to CPSUs and IPPs, and an updated status of hydro projects, including cost escalations and revised timelines.

Ashwani Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, PDD; Babila Rakwal, Commissioner Secretary, Science and Technology Department; Rahul Yadav, Managing Director, JKSPDC; G.P. Singh, Managing Director, JPDCL; Mahmood A. Shah, Managing Director, KPDCL; M.S. Malik, Director General, Budget; and other senior officers of JKPTCL, JKPCL, JAKEDA, NHPC, KPDCL and JPDCL attended the meeting.(KNS)