Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!đ Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. SRINAGAR: Minister for Revenue, Power Development Department (PDD), Law, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), and Elections, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Power Development Department (PDD) at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, to assess the overall functioning of the department, review the progress of key infrastructure and developmental projects, and evaluate preparedness for the forthcoming winter season.
The meeting focused on strengthening the power infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring adequate electricity availability, improving operational efficiency, expediting ongoing projects and enhancing the quality, reliability and accessibility of electricity services for consumers.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, PDD, Ashwani Kumar; Managing Directors of all power corporations; Director Finance, Power Development Department; Special Secretary (S/P); Director Planning; Additional Secretaries (A/Z and Legal); Chief Engineers; Superintending Engineers; and Executive Engineers of KPDCL, JPDCL, JKPTCL, JKPCL and JKPDCL. The Chief Electrical Inspector, other senior officers and concerned field functionaries of the department were also present. Officers stationed in Jammu participated in the deliberations through virtual mode.
At the outset, the officers apprised the Minister of the department's overall functioning, progress achieved on ongoing developmental works, power generation and procurement arrangements, status of transmission and distribution infrastructure, financial performance, operational challenges and future requirements of the power sector.
Emphasising that the provision of reliable, affordable and quality electricity constitutes an essential public service, Sagar maintained that all departmental initiatives must ultimately translate into tangible improvements in power supply and consumer satisfaction. He stressed that administrative efficiency, timely execution of projects and effective coordination across all levels of the departmental hierarchy must be reflected in measurable improvements in public service delivery.
COMPREHENSIVE WINTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Reviewing the department's preparedness for the approaching winter season, the Minister underscored the importance of putting in place comprehensive advance arrangements to maintain reliable electricity supply, particularly in snow-bound, far-flung, hilly and geographically remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
He directed the concerned officers to ensure adequate availability and advance stocking of transformers, cables, conductors and other essential electrical equipment at strategically identified locations to facilitate immediate restoration of electricity in the event of breakdowns, disruptions or other emergencies.
Stressing that winter preparedness must be reflected in concrete and verifiable arrangements on the ground, Sagar called for regular inspections of vulnerable power infrastructure, identification of potential operational bottlenecks and deployment of sufficient technical manpower, machinery and other resources well in advance.
He further directed the department to strengthen field-level response mechanisms and ensure seamless coordination among its various wings to facilitate prompt restoration of electricity during adverse weather conditions.
The Minister categorically emphasised that uninterrupted electricity supply to essential services, including hospitals, healthcare centres, drinking water installations, educational institutions and other critical public utilities, must be accorded the highest priority, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall and inclement weather.
ELECTRICITY AMNESTY SCHEME AND POWER PROCUREMENT
The implementation status of the Electricity Amnesty Scheme also came up for detailed review. The Minister stressed that the intended benefits of the scheme must effectively reach all eligible consumers and called for simplified procedures, extensive public outreach and timely disposal of cases to ensure that beneficiaries can avail themselves of its provisions without unnecessary procedural difficulties.
Taking stock of the prevailing power availability and demand-supply position, the meeting also deliberated upon the requirement for additional power procurement to bridge the anticipated gap between electricity demand and available supply.
In this regard, the proposed procurement of approximately 200 MW of electricity from Uttar Pradesh through power exchange arrangements was discussed as an important measure to address the demand-supply deficit.
Sagar stressed the need for advance assessment of electricity requirements and timely finalisation of procurement arrangements to ensure adequate power availability, particularly during periods of peak winter demand.
EXPEDITING RDSS IMPLEMENTATION AND SMART METERING
Reviewing the progress under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the Minister directed the officers to accelerate the execution of works aimed at strengthening the electricity distribution network, replacing overloaded transformers and other equipment, upgrading feeder infrastructure and reducing technical and commercial losses.
He called for close monitoring of the implementation of these works to ensure timely completion and effective utilisation of resources, emphasising that the objectives of the scheme must translate into tangible improvements in electricity supply, distribution efficiency and consumer satisfaction.
The status of smart meter installation across Jammu and Kashmir was also reviewed in detail. The Minister highlighted the importance of technological interventions in modernising the power sector and stressed that smart metering should contribute to greater transparency, accurate billing, improved accountability and more efficient consumer services.
POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AUGMENTATION
The meeting also examined the existing power generation capacity, overall electricity availability and the scope for optimising available resources to improve the power supply position across the Union Territory.
Sagar stressed the need to explore all feasible avenues for enhancing power generation, improving operational efficiency and ensuring the optimal utilisation of existing power resources.
A detailed review was also undertaken of the status of transmission lines, grid stations, capacity enhancement initiatives and ongoing maintenance works.
Directing the officers to address infrastructure deficiencies on priority, the Minister called for the identification and removal of bottlenecks and expeditious implementation of necessary interventions to strengthen the transmission network, enhance its carrying capacity and improve the overall reliability of electricity supply.
He also undertook a detailed review of major power projects currently under execution, along with those in the pipeline, emphasising the importance of timely implementation and completion of infrastructure initiatives.
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, REVENUE REALISATION AND LOSS REDUCTION
Emphasising the need to improve the financial and operational health of the power sector, the Minister reviewed the department's performance in billing efficiency, revenue collection and measures being undertaken to reduce Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
He observed that improved revenue realisation, financial discipline and operational efficiency are critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the power sector. However, he maintained that these objectives must be pursued alongside improved consumer services, transparency and institutional accountability.
Sagar called for strengthening the existing institutional mechanisms to ensure accurate metering, timely generation and delivery of electricity bills, and efficient revenue collection while safeguarding the legitimate interests of genuine consumers.
He stressed that financial reforms and operational improvements must be accompanied by a consumer-oriented approach, ensuring that the benefits of improved departmental performance are reflected in better electricity services.
CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY
Directing the officers to adopt a responsive and consumer-friendly approach, the Minister emphasised that complaints concerning unscheduled power cuts, defective transformers, damaged distribution lines, low voltage and delays in restoration of electricity must be addressed promptly and effectively.
He called for further strengthening complaint-monitoring and grievance-redressal mechanisms, directing officers at all levels to remain accessible, accountable and responsive to public concerns.
Particular emphasis was laid on ensuring effective grievance redressal during the winter months, when adverse weather conditions and disruptions to electricity infrastructure can significantly affect consumers, especially those residing in remote and snow-bound areas.
ISSUES CONCERNING PDL AND CLW WORKERS
The long-pending issues concerning Power Development Department (PDL) and Contingent Labour Workers (CLW) engaged with the department also received particular attention during the meeting.
Taking cognisance of their concerns, Sagar directed the concerned authorities to examine their cases comprehensively in accordance with applicable government policies, rules and prescribed eligibility conditions.
He further called upon the authorities to formulate an appropriate roadmap addressing their job security, rehabilitation and regularisation, wherever permissible under the applicable rules and regulations.
COORDINATION WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND FIELD-LEVEL FUNCTIONARIES
Highlighting the importance of effective coordination between the administrative machinery and elected representatives, the Minister directed field-level officers to maintain regular, meaningful and constructive interaction with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), other elected public representatives and village heads.
He emphasised that such engagement must remain consistent and impartial, irrespective of political affiliations, so that local issues concerning electricity supply, infrastructure development and public grievances are promptly identified and appropriately addressed.
PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE POWER MANAGEMENT
The Minister also underscored the importance of adopting innovative, forward-looking and sustainable approaches to power-sector management.
He called for exploring greater opportunities in energy conservation, promotion of renewable energy, adoption of solar power, feeder-level monitoring and efficient utilisation of available energy resources.
Stressing the importance of public participation in achieving energy efficiency, he called for intensified awareness initiatives to encourage responsible electricity consumption and promote a culture of energy conservation among consumers.
Concluding the review, Sagar reiterated that the performance of the Power Development Department must not be measured merely by the number of projects completed or the expenditure incurred, but primarily by the actual improvements experienced by consumers in terms of electricity supply reliability, accessibility, transparency and overall quality of services.
He stressed that every departmental intervention, whether related to infrastructure development, power procurement, financial reforms, technological upgradation or administrative efficiency, must contribute towards building a more reliable, responsive, accountable and consumer-centric power sector across Jammu and Kashmir.
