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Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Category: Headlines

POONCH: The Department of School Education Poonch felicitated the meritorious students of Class 10th and 12th of Government schools in a grand ceremony themed "Kabiliyat, Koshish, aur Kaamyabi" (Talent, Effort, and Achievement) held here. DDC Chairperson, Tazeem Akhter graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Yasin M Choudhary attended as Guest of Honor.

Joint Director School Education Mohammad Ashraf; Principal GDC Poonch Prof. Jasbir Singh and District Social Welfare Officer Vaqil Bhat were also in attendance. The ceremony began with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor. Thirty-six meritorious students, one Principle and 5 Headmasters were felicitated for their outstanding performance in the board exams.

Students who secured the first position in the district were awarded laptops, while those who secured the second and third positions were given tabs. All other meritorious students received trophies and certificates. In her address, the DDC Chairperson said, "I am thrilled to see so many talented students here. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work and dedication. Keep shining and make your district proud! Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our youth and we are committed to provide the best possible opportunities for their growth and development."

The DC congratulated the students on their outstanding performance, saying, "Your success is a reflection of the efforts of the teachers, parents, and the entire education system. We will continue to work tirelessly to provide quality education and infrastructure to our students, empowering them to achieve their dreams."

 Joint Director School Education Mohd Ashraf, in his address, said, "I am delighted to see the talented students of Poonch district being felicitated for their outstanding performance in the board exams. This ceremony is a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and parents. We are committed to providing quality education and infrastructure to our students, and we will continue to support and encourage them to reach new heights. I congratulate the students, teachers, and parents on this achievement and wish them all the best for their future endeavors."

 Earlier, Chief Education Officer Bishambar Dass, in his welcome address, highlighted the achievements of the Education Department in the District. "We are committed to provide quality education and infrastructure to our students, to enable them to achieve their dreams”, he said.”  Narinder Mohan Suri presented the vote of thanks. Renowned singer, Ehsan Asgar, enthralled the audience with his mesmerizing songs.

The parents of the students were also present, beaming with pride, as their children received the awards. Six schools, including one Higher Secondary School and five High Schools, also received certificates of appreciation and trophies for achieving 100% results in the board exams. The Principals, ZEOs, and Headmasters of these schools were also present on the occasion. The proceedings of the ceremony were conducted by Manjeet Kumar senior Lecturer.

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Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Category: Headlines

JAMMU: A 10 day and 60 hour internship Program for the students of Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar started here today in Government Polytechnic for Women Jammu.

The students undergoing B.Sc.(Hons) course under NEP 2020 in Physics in Government college for Women, Gandhi Nagar have enrolled for the program that focuses on skill enhancement based on Basic Electricity and Electronics, Electrical Wiring and Domestic appliances, Electrical Machine and switches etc. It will be conducted in 3 modules of 20 hrs. each (Total 60 hrs.)

The inaugural function was held today in the Conference hall of the institution. Er. Suket Gupta, Principal of the institution was the chief guest on the occasion. During an interaction, he welcomed the students and faculty for Govt College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and exhorted upon the interns to work in coordination with the instructors/ faculty to achieve the objectives of the internship as it will bridge the gap between the actual world of work and academics as envisaged in NEP 2020.

Er. Naresh Gupta, HODE&C and coordinator of the program, while interacting, deliberated upon conduct of such programs so as  to bring the academia and skill development institution on platform for holistic development of the competencies  of the students. Prof. Prabhjeet Kour, HOD Physics Government College for Women Gandhi Nagar, while interacting, thanked Principal Govt. Polytechnic for Women, Jammu for promptly agreeing to conduct the program for the benefit of the students.

Among those present on the occasion included Dr. Rawan Kumar, Associate Prof. Govt. College for Women, Dr. Iqbal Quasim Assistant Prof. Govt. College for Women, Prof. Rajinder Kumar, Assistant Prof Govt. College for women, faculty and staff of Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering.

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Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Category: Headlines

• 36,400 solar rooftops to be installed under flagship scheme in next 3 years
• No technical feasibility required from beneficiary up to 10 kWp plant

SRINAGAR:  Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) today urged the domestic consumers to immediately apply and register for installation of Solar Rooftop Plants under the Centre’s flagship PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to reap benefits of free solar energy.

It further stated that around 40 empanelled Solar PV Vendors are being onboarded on the National PM Surya Ghar portal, paving way for rolling out the subsidized scheme in Kashmir Division.

In a statement released to the press here today, a KPDCL spokesperson stated that 36,400 solar rooftops shall be installed under the scheme target till March 31, 2027. “A large number of interested consumers have already registered on the national portal and with onboarding of empanelled vendors, installation of solar rooftops shall begin soon,” he said, while urging the consumers to submit their formal applications on the designated portal – www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in.

In order to facilitate the beneficiaries, the spokesperson stated that no Technical Feasibility Report (TFR) is required for a solar plant up to 10 kWp. He, however, clarified that solar panels shall be compulsorily installed on rooftops of the beneficiaries.

Calling upon the consumers to avail benefits of PM Surya Ghar Scheme, the spokesman stated that subsidy for residential rooftop solar is 60% of the system cost up to 2 kW & 40% of additional system cost for systems between 2-3 kW capacity. At current benchmark prices, it adds up to Rs.33,000/- subsidy for 1 kWp, Rs.66,000/- for 2 kWp and Rs. 85,800/- for 3 kWp solar rooftop systems or higher for special category UT like Jammu & Kashmir.

The KPDCL spokesperson further said that households availing the scheme, will be able to save on electricity bills. In order to facilitate the prospective beneficiaries and popularize the solar rooftop scheme, KPDCL has created a hyperlink of PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana on its designated website – www.kpdcl.jkpdd.net. KDPCL urged the consumers to click on the hyperlink so that they are navigated to the national portal for registration and submission of formal applications.

The spokesman further added that Kashmir DISCOM is organising awareness camps and IEC campaigns in all Electric Divisions so that maximum publicity is given to the flagship scheme.

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Written by: Ajmer Alam Wani

Category: Headlines

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a trailblazer in reforming its electricity sector, addressing long-standing legacy issues to a large extent to ensure enhanced service delivery to consumers. A significant milestone has been achieved through the modernization initiative, replacing obsolete meters with state-of-the-art smart meters.

These advanced technologies promise error-free billing, eliminating human errors and outdated manual systems. They also empower consumers by providing better control over electricity usage and budget management, alongside other benefits like streamlined billing and payment processes.

According to the latest data from the National Power Portal (NPP) managed by the Government of India, J&K has secured a place among the top seven states/UTs with over 500,000 smart meters successfully installed in consumer residences. Other states leading in smart meter installations according to the NPP include Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. J&K has set a definitive plan to achieve 100% smart metering by 2026, with contracts already awarded. The UT has also excelled in deploying technologies such as AB cabling and HVDS systems, enhancing system reliability and ensuring public safety.

In the initial phase of reforms, 4,500 circuit kilometers (Ckm) of old wires in congested urban areas have been replaced with modern, fully insulated cables. Additionally, under the ongoing RDSS scheme, approximately 30,000 Ckm of AB cable is being provided. Further, about10,000 small HVDS transformers close to consumer installations have been installed in planned colonies, ensuring better voltage regulation and reducing the risk of electricity theft. An additional 20,000 HVDS transformers are scheduled to be added under the RDSS scheme in next fifteen months as per the feasibility. These initiatives have collectively improved system reliability and significantly enhanced consumer satisfaction.

Efforts to ensure affordable electricity tariffs for consumers have been equally prioritized, with substantial subsidies being provided by the government on the full cost tariff evaluated based on the current price of power procurement and other actual discom expenses approved by the JERC. Notably, J&K refrained from increasing electricity tariffs during the current financial year (2024-25). In the previous year (2023-24), while metered consumers faced a 15% tariff hike, the government offset this increase by withdrawing the 15% Electricity Duty on energy charges, resulting in no net rise in consumer bills.

However, with these initiatives government bears a huge burden in maintaining the financial stability of the sector, which is crucial for securing grants from the central government to upgrade power infrastructure. In monetary terms, it is estimated that for every unit sold to metered residential consumers, the government bears a loss of approximately Rs. 3.75, by providing subsidy.

At the same time, there is grave concern over the high number of unmetered areas still prevalent in Kashmir. These areas contribute to substantial energy losses, exacerbated by the fact that only 32% (318605 no.) of residential consumers are metered and are being billed as per actual metered consumption against the total residential consumer base of 982125.The remaining 68% of residential consumers (663520 no.) are charged on a flat-rate (fixed charges) basis.

The flat-rate bills have not accurately reflected actual usage, even during the era of electro-mechanical meters. In today's digital age, where energy measurements are precise from generation to consumption, ensuring accurate metering at the consumer end is paramount. It's noteworthy that Jammu and Kashmir remains the only Union Territory where consumers still receive electricity without meters.

DISCOMs in J&K are actively participating in the Government of India's RDSS scheme to improve power supply quality and reliability by strengthening supply infrastructure. Conditional financial assistance is provided under this scheme based on achieving specific targets to reduce Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses and bridge the gap between Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and Average Revenue Realized (ARR).

In addition to technological interventions, Distribution Companies (Discoms) have intensified enforcement activities to curb electricity theft and enforce regulations under the Electricity Act-2003. These efforts have significantly reduced Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses from 63% in 2021-22 to 41% in 2023-24. Progress has also been made in narrowing the gap between Aggregate Cost of Supply (ACS) and Aggregate Revenue Requirement (ARR).

To enhance efficiency and reduce losses in unmetered (Flat Rate) areas, several measures have been implemented. Distribution Companies (Discoms) are conducting calibrated load rationalization based on actual electricity usage and connected loads, ensuring compliance with Electricity Supply Code regulations to prevent inflated bills. Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has introduced flat-rate tariffs to encourage consumers to transition to metered billing.

This initiative aims to accurately reflect actual electricity consumption, thereby promoting fairness in billing practices. Furthermore, consumers in unmetered areas are receiving counseling and encouragement to opt for metered billing if they perceive flat-rate charges as disproportionate to their actual consumption. This approach empowers consumers to make informed decisions regarding their electricity usage, fostering transparency and efficiency in the billing process.

These initiatives underscore Jammu and Kashmir's commitment to enhancing the reliability, affordability, and transparency of its electricity supply. The government remains dedicated to modernizing infrastructure, reducing losses, and ensuring consumer satisfaction in the electricity sector.