By: Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: In a significant move, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has submitted the detailed project reports (DPRs) under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) to the Centre for approval.
Details available with The Precious Kashmir reveal that DPRs have been submitted to the Ministry of Power, Government of India (GoI) for approval.
“The DPRs and action plan for the scheme have been cleared by the UT distribution reforms committee headed by Chief Secretary and the action plan for implementation of the scheme has been approved by UT administrative council headed by Lieutenant Governor,” reads the report.
The CS-headed Union Territory Distribution Reforms Committee comprise of administrative secretaries of Finance Department, Power Development Department, Forest and Revenue Departments as its members.
As per its terms of reference, the panel will review the progress of the scheme at the UT level and recommend the action plan to the administrative Council for approval.
The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has been approved by the Government of India to help DISCOMS (Power Distribution Companies) improve their operational efficiencies and financial sustainability by providing result-linked financial assistance to DISCOMS to strengthen supply infrastructure based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmarks.
The scheme has an outlay of Rs 3,03, 758 Cr over five years i.e., FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. The outlay includes an estimated government budgetary support (GBS) of Rs 97, 631 crore.
This scheme aims at reduction of aggregate technical & commercial (AT&C) losses, 100% pre-paid metering, reduction of average cost of supply and the average revenue realized (ACS-ARR) gap, developing modern distribution companies (DISCOMs) and leveraging artificial intelligence besides focus on operational efficiency.