Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said that Jammu and Kashmir has made significant progress in the deployment of smart and pre-paid smart meters, placing it ahead of many other states in the country.
During his visit to Srinagar, the Minister held a comprehensive review meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, focusing on the performance and progress of the Power Development and Housing Departments. He expressed satisfaction over the ongoing developmental work in both sectors.
“Jammu and Kashmir has made remarkable strides in the rollout of smart meters,” Khattar said. “However, the distribution systems of DISCOMs had long-standing inefficiencies, especially reflected in AT&C losses, which are still above the national average.”
The Minister acknowledged that steps are being actively taken to address the issue and that the efforts so far are commendable. He also pointed out the need to work on reducing the financial gap between the Average Cost of Supply (ACS) and the Average Revenue Realised (ARR) — a key factor in cutting down losses for DISCOMs.
“Although there has been noticeable improvement in reducing AT&C losses over the past four years, the current figures still surpass the national benchmark,” he added.
Highlighting the potential of Jammu and Kashmir in the power sector, Khattar said the Union Government is committed to enhancing the capacity of existing and upcoming power projects in the region. He also noted the need to leverage opportunities under the Indus Waters Treaty to strengthen the power generation landscape.(DD)
