PDD recovers over Rs 8-cr fine from power defaulters in J&K

The Jammu and Kashmir electricity department today said it has recovered Rs 8.29 crore as fine from power defaulters and also regularised 23,190 "illegal electric connections" in the state during the current year.
The Commissioner Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir's Power Development Department (PDD), Dheeraj Gupta informed this at a meeting here.
"A fine of Rs 8.29 crore has been recovered from the defaulters and 23,190 (illegal) electric connections have been regularised in Jammu and Kashmir during the current year," Gupta said.
He was briefing a meeting of the committee on Public Accounts of J&K Legislature pertaining to PDD, held under the chairmanship of MLA Mian Altaf Ahmed.

During the current year, 48,077 inspections were conducted by enforcement team of PDD across the state to check illegal electric connections.
Altaf also directed to make enforcement wings more active and ensure random checking to curb the menace of illegal power connections.

Besides, efforts are being made to streamline the power supply system across the state and various centrally sponsored and state sector schemes are being implemented to achieve tangible results on ground, he said.
It was informed at the meeting that under Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (RAPDRP), schemes worth Rs 1,665 crore are being implemented in about 30 towns of the state for augmenting High Voltage Distribution System.

As many as 21 receiving stations have been created in the state while 56 such stations have been augmented, 88 km long 33 KV new line has been laid and 294 km long such lines have been improved so far.
Altaf also stressed on the need to have buffer stock of transformers, especially in remote areas, to ensure timely replacement of damaged transformers during winter season.