Power Min directs PSUs to expedite J-K projects

Expressing dissatisfaction over the sluggish pace of work by three Central PSUs on augmentation of power transmission and distribution infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Power R K Singh Thursday said there is absolutely no scope for lackadaisical approach and the works shall have to be completed within the set time-frame.

Singh was speaking at a meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik at SKICC here to review the progress of power sector schemes in the state.

The minister asked the State Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam to submit fortnightly update directly to his office on the implementation of Rs 2,500 crore works allotted to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), Rural Electrification Corporation Power Distribution Company Limited (RECPDCL) and REC Transmission Project Company Ltd (RECTPCL).

The projects have been awarded under the Prime Minister's Development Programme (PMDP), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP).

The minister also asked these PSUs to establish their camp offices in Srinagar and keep senior officers stationed in the state's summer capital for regularly monitoring the progress of works in Kashmir and Ladakh.

Responding to the plea of the state government for bringing down the Project Implementing Agency charges fixed at 8 per cent for transmission, 8.5 per cent for distribution works by these PSUs, the minister said the issue would be looked into favourably and the PSUs would be asked to levy uniform rate of 5 per cent as PIA charges.

Earlier, in his presentation, Commissioner Secretary, Power Development Department (PDD), Hirdesh Kumar informed the meeting that there has been only 5 per cent physical progress on the works allotted to these PSUs in February this year.

He said RECPDCL has been engaged for execution of distribution works for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh areas for design, engineering, procurement, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of all the material and services works to be taken up for execution of distribution works under IPDS, PMDP and R-APDRP in 5 circles of J&K at an estimated cost of Rs 931.33 crore.