Devolution of electrification

08/07/2019

Finally the Government has waked from the slumber sleep and ordered the devolution of electrification, system strengthening, loss reductions works in Power Development Department (PDD) to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). According to the order issued by PDD, the Government has directed the devolution in exercise of powers conferred under sub-Section 4 of section 12 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 (amended up to October 2018). The Panchayats will identify left out houses, if any/new constructions for electrification, which shall also include public installations like Schools, Panchayats, Hospitals, Religious places etc., and report the same to the concerned Sub Divisional Officer of JKPDD for electrification. Under vision "24×7 quality power" for all, JKPDD has taken up metering of unmetered consumers in the State, which includes consumers in rural areas as well. The Panchayats shall make the consumers aware about judicious use of electricity through metering and cooperate in installing meters in unmetered rural areas so as to achieve 100% metering in the State, the order started but it is yet to been seen that when and how this will happen as there is shortage of electricity in state, in winters there is power curtailment in Valley and in summers there is huge shortage and curtailment in Jammu.
With a view to reduce time of interruption of power supply to consumers in rural areas due to transformer damage, line faults, damage to lines due to rain, snow, wind storm or floods and other such reasons, the Panchayats shall report the matter to concerned SDO promptly so that restoration is carried out on fast track basis. The Panchayats will also maintain the monthly interruption statements of each village and submit the same to the concerned SDO for taking up the distribution stabilization works so that interruptions are reduced and reliable and quality power supply is provided to the rural areas, the order added. But the important thing here is to wait and watch that how and when this will become reality as our newspaper has always been highlighting the issues of common masses of state and this issue is one of them. Before devolution of electrification there should be a proper plan for solving the problem of shortage of electricity.

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