Power tariff arrears in J&K swells to Rs 9321.71 crore

Srinagar, Mar 12: A whopping sum of Rs. 9321.71 crore is due to Jammu and Kashmir Power Distribution Companies as arrears of electricity charges from Central and local government departments, industrial and domestic consumers. 

Giving details about it, Union minister of state (independent charge) for power, new & renewable energy R.K. Singh informed parliament in a written reply that the government departments, both J&K and central, have Rs 5935.04 due as arrears— Rs 1864.20 crore to Kashmir Power Distribution Company Limited (KPDCL) and Rs 4070.84 crores to Jammu Power Distribution Company Limited (JPDCL) respectively.      

Raju, who is also MoS for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said that industrial and commercial consumers owe Rs 1462.33 crores—Rs 5891.81 crore to KPDCL and Rs 880.52 crore to JPDCL.

According to Global News Service, domestic consumers have Rs 1924.34 crore due as arrears— Rs 828.29 crore to KPDCL and Rs 1095.95 crore to JPDCL.  

Cumulatively, total due as arrears is due to KPDCL is Rs 3274.40 crore and nearly double, Rs 6047.31 crore, to JPDCL.   

The minister was responding to various questions by Hasnain Masoodi, the National Conference parliamentarian, who had also sought details of the Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs) functional and under construction in Jammu and Kashmir and the capacity of the HEPs established and sanctioned by the Union Government in J&K.

The minister said that there are 11 Hydro Electric Projects/ Power Stations (above 25 MW), totaling to 3360 MW, which are established and functional in J&K. They include seven in central sector (NHPC)— 390 MW Dulhasti (Kishtwar), 345 MW Salal-I (Reasi), 345 MW Salal-II (Udhampur), 120 MW Sewa-II (Maksha), 480 MW Uri (Baramulla), 240 MW Uri-II (Baramulla) and 330MW Kishanganga (Bandipora) and five in state sector (JKSPDC)—450 MW Baghihar (Ramban), 450MW Baghlihar II (Ramban), 105 MW Lower Jhelum (Baramulla), 105 MW Upper Sindh II (Ganderbal).   

He said presently, 5 hydroelectric projects (above 25 MW) aggregating to 1709.50 MW are under construction in Jammu and Kashmir. They, as per GNS, include 1000 MW Pakal Dul (Kishtwar), 37.50 MW Parnai (Poonch), 48 MW Lower Kalnai (Kishtwar) and 624 MW Kiru (Kishtwar).

To Masoodi’s questions regarding the steps taken by the Government for upgradation of 6.6 KV power transformer to 33 KV power transformer in the UT, Raju said that the distribution of electricity falls under the purview of the respective State Governments / State Power Utility.

“It is the responsibility of respective distribution utility to upgrade and strengthen their Distribution systems including the distribution transformer to ensure quality and reliable power to all its consumers,” he said, adding, “Government of India is assisting the States/UTs including UT of J&K under various ongoing schemes such as Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) for creation and augmentation of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure, metering of distribution transformers, feeders, consumers, underground (UG) and aerial bunched (AB) cables including IT enablement of distribution infrastructures etc.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)