JK Govt to have 2 wings, PMU on power project implementation

Jammu and Kahsmir government today gave approval for creation of two wings and one Project Management Unit (PMU) in Power Development department (PDD) for the implementations of the power projects in the State.
The State Administrative Council which met here under the Chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra approved creation of 187 posts for two dedicated project wings, one each for Jammu and Kashmir and one Project Management Unit at the Secretariat level, for monitoring and timely completion of Power projects, an official spokesman said.
The creation of these posts is initially for a period of five years, the Spokesman said.

The creations approved include two posts of Chief Engineers, six posts of SEs, 14 posts of Executive Engineers, 35 posts of AEEs/AEs, 54 posts of JEs and other support staff.
The SAC also approved hiring of manpower required (total-96, Stenographers, Junior Assistants/Data Entry Operators, Drivers and Orderlies) from open market and by outsourcing.
The Funds required for creation of posts/hiring of manpower and operationalisation of these wings/PMU shall be provided by the Finance Department.

In view of large public investments in the Power sector in future and implementation of various flagship programmes, creation of two additional wings (one each for Jammu and Kashmir provinces) and a Project Management Unit to handle new projects in the distribution sector was considered essential as the personnel of the department were already stretched with their O&M responsibilities and not geared to handle this size of public investment, the spokesman said.

He further said that in view of the renewed thrust on the Power Sector Reforms, PDD is mandated to handle huge public expenditure under various flagship programmes in the next three years under Central Sector.
The creation of dedicated project wings is expected to give new impetus to implementation of flagship programmes in the Power Sector, he added.