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| R-APDRP implementation deadline to end in March 2016 | | Govt's non-serious approach likely to drain exchequer | | Peerzada Ummer
Early Time Report
Srinagar, Dec 17: The tall claims of the state government over ensuring better electricity supplies to the people are all set to fall flat as the power ministry in JK is going to miss the deadline of March 2016 for the implementation of the much hyped R-APDRP program for the state.
Launched in the year 2011, Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) had a focus to reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses in power distribution and management across state utilities. A Private firm was selected to establish reliable and automated systems for sustained collection of accurate baseline data for Jammu and Kashmir Power Development, as well as enhance adoption of information technology in the areas of energy accounting.
As the transmission and distribution losses mount in the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the consumers bearing the brunt of load shedding, the scheme was launched amid much fanfare with the aim to reduce the T&D losses, there is apparently no development on ground vis-a-vis the completion of the scheme.
Top sources within the state dispensation told Early Times that the deadline for the completion of the project will be missed by the state government as there as merely three months left and there are no traces of any completion of the work. Sources said that though there are some isolated pockets in the Jammu region wherein work has been initiated on R-APDRP but as far as the Kashmir valley is concerned, the implementation of such scheme continues to remain a distant dream.
The scheme was ought to be implemented in two phases, covering the entire state. For the first phase of the project, the Central government had sanctioned Rs.151.99 crores under R-APDRP while an amount of Rs.1665.27 crores had been approved for the second phase of this vital project.
The second phase was supposed to cover two main cities including Jammu and Srinagar for which the funds estimated at the cost of Rs. 52,89 crores have been approved. These schemes were proposed to be taken up under National Electricity Fund for which Rural Electrification Corporation is the nodal agency. Under this scheme 30 towns have been identified as project areas in J&K state with population of above 10,000 as per 2001 census. For this purpose, the government had already taken a pilot exercise and some 30 towns have been identified as project areas in J&K, another 283 towns with population of over 4000 have also been identified that will be covered in the second phase. Phase -1 of 283 towns is to cost Rs. 171.61 crores and phase-2 will cost Rs. 1073.33 crores. These projects were proposed to be taken up under Phase-II of R-APDRP through a special dispensation which could not materialize.
Interestingly, the deputy chief minister Dr Nirmal Singh who also holds the portfolio of the power ministry on August 29, this year while reviewing the status of different components of R-APDRP Part B project, directed the Executing agency IRCON to expedite the implementation and complete all works by March 2016. He said the implementation of the project would go a long way in improving power scenario and in containing T&D losses in the state.
He had said that after the completion of the works under the project, people would also get respite from low voltage.
But, as the deadline for the implementation of the scheme is nearing closer, the justification by the government for the delay is yet to be heard. It would likely be the floods or peoples' non- cooperation that would be presented as an excuse by the government for failing to meet the deadline. |
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