Srinagar, May 12 (Scoop News) – With a view to safeguarding the State’s revenue interests and to ensure judicious use of electricity, the Government as a policy matter, today decided that no new power connection will be permitted unless it is electronically metered. Meanwhile, over 42000 electronic meters are being installed by the end of the current month, raising the total number of metered consumers to 2. 68 in
Decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting held here this afternoon to take stock of the latest status of revenue realization on account of electricity supply in Kashmir Division.
The Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather presided.
The Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Economic Advisor to Government, Jalil Ahmed Khan, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Panday, Director General Budgets, Development Commissioner Power, Chief Engineer of Power Department and Executive Engineers from all over the Kashmir Division attended the meeting.
It was also decided that the tampered meters if found anywhere would be replaced at consumers’ cost alongwith the penalty. The concerned accounts branch will immediately instruct for disconnection of the power supply to the consumers who have been served the power tariff Bill but not paid timely. The meeting also decided that computerization of 21 electric sub-divisions, of Kashmir Division would be completed by July this year.
The meeting was informed that as a request to achieve 100% about 1.70 lakh more electronic meters shall be procured within a month which would be installed in the uncovered areas. The Power Development Department has fixed a revenue realization target of over Rs. 650 crore for Kashmir Division during the current financial.
Speaking on the occasion the Finance Minister while expressing his grave concern over the huge gap between the energy supplied and revenue realization called for bringing major reforms at various levels in the Power Department. He urged for coordinated efforts to check power thefts and pilferages optimally adding that revenue realization should be commensurate to energy supplied. He said officer and engineers of the department would be made more accountable and revenue realization on account of power realization on account of power supply would be the bench mark for monitoring their performance.
Rather also called for vigorous recovery drive of power Bill arrears against the defaulting government departments underscoring the need for accomplishing 100% coverage of power supply by electronic meters, Rather said it was necessary for accounting energy and bridging the gap between power supply and revenue realization. He also urged for a massive awareness and motivational campaign among the masses to check power thefts and directed for a sustained inspection drive against the unscrupulous power consumers.
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