Omar Abdullah Addresses Key Issues in J&K Assembly During Question Hour

Jammu, March 5 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah, actively engaged in addressing various inquiries during the Assembly’s question hour on Wednesday, focusing on electricity, public distribution systems, and other development-related issues.

Omar Abdullah informed the assembly that the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is currently being executed to address power losses and modernize the power infrastructure in J&K.

In response to a query from member Shakti Raj Parihar, the Chief Minister, who also oversees the Power Development portfolio, highlighted that J&K's transmission and distribution losses rank among the highest in India.

He pointed out that these losses are significantly elevated compared to neighboring states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

“Until we effectively manage this situation, our current AT&C losses hover around 50 percent. For every rupee's worth of electricity supplied, we incur a loss of about 50 paisa. We must gradually bring this down to levels comparable with neighboring states. The implementation of the RDSS scheme is a crucial step in this direction,” he stated.

The Chief Minister responded to a detailed question regarding the total funds allocated and utilized under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) for the member's constituency.

He elaborated that the RDSS scheme includes smart metering initiatives, and funds have been allocated for various Loss Reduction (LR) activities, such as AB cabling, HVDS, reconductoring, feeder bifurcation, and segregation, tailored to the technical requirements of each district.

“The funding for LR projects is sanctioned at the district level, rather than for individual constituencies,” he added.

The Chief Minister disclosed that the sanctioned budget for LR initiatives in Doda District amounts to Rs 86.28 crore, with contracts awarded in September 2023.

“The Ministry of Power (MoP) releases funds for these projects in tranches based on progress. To date, Rs 17 crore has been disbursed in two tranches, both of which have been fully utilized. We are seeking funds for the next tranche as per the scheme’s guidelines,” he stated.

Addressing concerns regarding the sluggish progress of RDSS projects, the Chief Minister explained that after the sanction order was issued, the package (including Doda district) was first tendered on March 31, 2023.

“However, due to inadequate responses, the tendering process needed to be extended thrice. Ultimately, the bids were opened on August 4, 2023, and awarded on September 8, 2023,” he remarked.

He further reported that 12.25 percent progress has been achieved thus far, and the works are proceeding without delays.

“At the current pace, we anticipate the Doda district projects will be completed well before the RDSS sunset date of March 31, 2026,” he added.

The Chief Minister also mentioned that the RDSS Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) were created in two segments: one for Loss Reduction (LR) and smart metering, and the other for modernization.

“Both parts' DPRs were submitted to the Ministry of Power (MoP). However, sanction has only been granted for Part A works,” he noted.

Regarding Part B, he indicated that the DPRs are currently under appraisal by the MoP’s Nodal Agency.

“Once the MoP approves the Part B DPRs, the modernization efforts will commence according to the conditions outlined in the sanction order,” he concluded.

Omar Abdullah remarked that Gurez Valley has recently emerged as a notable tourist destination, and the Tourism Department will evaluate the necessity of establishing a Tourism Development Authority for Gurez.

In response to a question from member Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, the Chief Minister reported that Gurez Valley has gained significant attention as a tourist spot.

“In 2022, Gurez Valley was honored with the ‘Best Offbeat Destination’ award, underscoring its appeal as a unique tourism site,” he said.

Additionally, the Chief Minister, who also serves as the Tourism Minister, stated that in September 2023, Dawar village in Gurez was recognized as the ‘Best Tourism Village’ in the Gold category by the Union Ministry of Tourism.

“This accolade highlights the village's cultural richness and tourism potential,” he informed the Legislative Assembly.

To further promote Gurez as a premier tourist destination, he added, the Department of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir, has initiated several measures, and in 2024, commercial rafting was launched in Gurez for the very first time.

“Moreover, during this financial year, the Department of Tourism, J&K, has earmarked funds for upgrading Gurez as an offbeat destination under the Capex Budget (2024-25),” the Chief Minister stated in his response.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly that assistance to victims of fire incidents is allocated based on the revised guidelines under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

In response to member Ali Mohammad Sagar's inquiry during the ongoing Budget Session's Question Hour, the Chief Minister clarified that the assistance for fire victims aligns with the revised standards set by the SDRF and NDRF, as directed by the Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The Chief Minister, also responsible for Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, further stated that these guidelines are reassessed every five years.