Omar for upgrading power infrastructure

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PROGRESS ON RGREP REVIEWED

Chief Minister, Mr. Omar Abdullah Monday said that while government was vigorously following the power generation schemes to bridge the gap between availability and demand, efforts were afoot to upgrade and improve the power distribution and transmission system. “A dependable power distribution network to ensure proper supply of electric energy and reduce the transmission losses is imperative”, he emphasized.

Reviewing the progress of Rajiv Gandhi Grammen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) at a high level meeting here, Mr. Omar said that the best advantage should be taken from the centrally funded RGGVY scheme to cover all un-electrified or de-electrified villages and hamlets ensuring 100 percent rural electrification. “This would in turn help in the overall development of rural areas and creation of employment opportunities for the people”, he added.

The Chief Minister said that power requirement for agriculture and irrigation sectors besides industrial units could be met under the scheme. “We can also benefit information technology, healthcare, education and other related sectors under RGGVY”, he said and asked the Power Development Department to accelerate work on all the 14 projects launched in the all the districts under the scheme. He emphasized the need on regular monitoring of the progress at all levels and timely completion of the works.

The Chief Minister took project-wise appraisal of the schemes and reviewed the progress threadbare. “Wherever scope the Draft Project Reports (DPRs) be upgraded to bring all un-electrified rural villages under the ambit of RGGVY”, he stressed.

The meeting was informed that the scheme was sanctioned for Kupwara, Kathua and Udhampur districts under 10^th Plan while as the districts of Srinagar, Jammu, Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Pulwama, Budgam, Leh and Kargil have been covered under the scheme in 11^th Plan. These also include the areas under newly created eight districts.

The meeting was also informed that the total cost of the 14 projects amounts to about Rs. 783 crore, of which, Rs. 324 crore have been expended by the end of September 2009. The RGGVY envisages electrification of 309 un-electrified or de-electrified villages besides energizing 9525 hamlets benefiting 315976 households.

The Principal Secretary, Power, Mr. B. R. Sharma in a PowerPoint presentation explained all aspects of RGGVY and said that the scheme would help in a big way to create village electrification infrastructure and de-centralize distribution, generation and supply. The scheme will also ensure electrification of un-electrified habitations with the population of above 100 souls. He said the scheme also provides for construction of 33/11 KV and 66/11 KV sub-stations of adequate capacity and transmission lines in blocks where these do not exit.

Mr. Sharma said the State Power Development Corporation is executing the projects in the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Baramulla, Kupwara, Pulwama and Anantnag while as NHPC is looking after the implementation work in Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Budgam, Leh and Kargil districts. He said RGGVY is funded by the Centre Government in the pattern of 90 percent grant and 10 percent loan.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Power, Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan, Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Mr. Devender Singh Rana, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mr. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Managing Director, JKSPDC, Mr. Bipul Pathak, Chief Engineers from Kashmir and Jammu divisions besides other senior officers.