PDD revenue from Kashmir division jumps up

The Kashmir wing of Power Development Department (PDD) has realised highest ever revenue of Rs 174.43 crore up to September this fiscal -- about 128 per cent higher than the revenue collected during the corresponding period last fiscal.
     
The revenue realised up to September last fiscal was only to the tune of Rs 76.33 crore, an official spokesman said after a high-level meeting chaired by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather here.
   
He said the meeting was convened to review revenue realisation on account of power supply in Kashmir division.
   
The government has set an ambitious target of about Rs 800 crore to be collected on account of energy supply to the consumers in Kashmir division during the current financial year.The spokesman said as many as 1433 consumers were added during first two quarters of the current fiscal raising the total number of consumers from 687651 in March 2011 to 701981 by the end of September 2011.
   
"This has resulted in additional load of 17.67 MW of power raising the load from 668.54 MW in March 2011 to 686.21 MW till September 2011," he said.
   
He said the PDD has almost completed computerisation programme for issuing bills to the consumers.
   
The required hardware has been procured for 68 power sub-divisions, of which, 66 sub-divisions have been commissioned, he said.
   
He said the department has conducted 14996 inspections during first two quarters of the current fiscal to check misuse of power and a fine to the tune of about Rs 60 lakh has been imposed on defaulters.
   
Addressing the meeting, the Minister underscored the need to improve the power tariff collections efficiency to increase the level of revenue collection.
   
"Revenue realization should be proportionate to energy supply. It is imperative for economic stability of the state," Rather said and directed for achieving 100 per cent metering target as early as possible.