Committee on Estimates reviews functioning of Power Development Department

Srinagar, Aug 20: The House Committee on Estimates Wednesday convened a meeting at the Assembly Complex in Srinagar to review the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD).
The meeting was chaired by Committee Chairperson, Shamim Firdous, and attended by members including Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Chander Prakash Ganga, Gharu Ram Bhagat and Arjun Singh Raju.
Senior officers present in the meeting included MD JKSPDC/JKPCL, Rahul Yadav; Secretary Legislative Assembly, Manoj Kumar Pandita; MD JKPTCL, Roheela Wani; MD JKPDCL, GP Singh; DG Budget, Finance Department, MS Malik; MD KPDCL, Mahmood Ahmad Shah; Special Secretary PDD, M.Y. Malik; Chief Engineers and others.
The Committee held a detailed review of progress on implementation of various schemes. These included the status of smart metering, cabling, allocation and utilization of funds, infrastructure development in power generation and transmission, improvement in HT/LT lines, replacement of defunct transformers and ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Committee also reviewed the implementation of Amnesty Scheme, RDSS, IPDS, PMDP and other ongoing projects.
The Chairperson emphasized the need for result-oriented initiatives to address the power cuts and curtailment, prompt repair and replacement of damaged transformers, restoration of defunct street lights besides eradication of power theft.
She stressed the importance of ensuring scheduled power supply to consumers, particularly during peak hours.
The Committee called for effective resource mobilization for power generation, better manpower management and timely disposal of ex-gratia relief to the families of daily wagers/casual labourers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The Chairperson directed for taking up the vacancies in the department with the recruitment agencies for early selection. She also asked for ensuring rationalization of staff for the convenience of the public.
The Committee further stressed on expediting fund utilization under RDSS and other schemes. He urged for concrete steps for implementation of the Chief Minister’s Amnesty Scheme for recovery of power dues from consumers. It also underlined the importance of inter-departmental coordination for seamless service delivery and effective scheme implementation.
The Chairperson emphasized on taking pro-public measures while strengthening the infrastructure development and ensuring general public is majorly benefitted under various schemes of the department. Directions were also passed for sustainable measures to minimize T&D losses across J&K.
The Committee resolved to continue the performance monitoring of key departments, while thoroughly scrutinizing budget estimates, revised allocations and expenditures to promote accountability and transparency in infrastructure development.
The members of the Committee also offered valuable suggestions and flagged several issues related to the functioning of the department.