POWER SECTOR: Govt deptt owe whopping Rs 605 crore to PDD

POWER SECTOR: Govt deptt owe whopping Rs 605 crore to PDD

Yash Khajuria 

12/9/2011 10:07:29 PM

JAMMU, Dec 9: At a time when Government is making tall claims of reforming the power sector in the state and achieve revenue targets, different government departments still owe whopping Rs 605 crore to the Power  Development Department (PDD). 

Officials said that this is the main hindrance in way of the Department to achieve its revenue targets. Sources said that most of the Government offices are using the electricity with impunity and despite repeated notices they have not responded to them. 

Sources said that government employees alone owe nearly Rs 28 crore to the department, putting question mark on the measures taken by the Omar Abdullah led government on reforming the electricity sector. It is pertinent to mention here that of the budget of Rs 5000 crore for the state, power sector consumes about Rs 2400 crore annually, while the revenue collection is just Rs 600-800 crore.

“Speeches are ok, but no sincere steps are being taken by the PDD to recover the money from the defaulters. It will take years before the pending arrears are cleared by the government”, said a senior officer from the PDD on condition of anonymity. 

When contacted, PDD Chief Engineer Mohammad Qasim said, “We have taken steps for recovery but it will take time. These are pending for last many years and departments are also cooperating”. 

He said that they have took up the matter with the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah who have assured that he will ensure that arrears are cleared. 

Every year PDD has the target of nearly Rs 1500 crore as revenue, but they are able to recover just Rs 600 to Rs 800 crore annually, due to which state had to face the wrath of the Union Power Ministry, which has warned the J&K from time to time, to improve its revenue collection. 

"While people are being made to shell out fees even using harsh measures, no effort is being made to recover dues from the departments who have emerged as major defaulters", said a official. 

It is pertinent to mention here that Power sector is a major headache for the J&K, while its use is increasing every year, but state had to divert crores to keep the power supply stable. Another worry is the higher Transmission and Distribution losses, which has reached nearly 72 per cent from 40 per cent just five years ago. 

Government has recently said that they intend to install 1200 capacitors to keep check on the losses on the advice of experts committee, but so far the project has also not helped much to check the losses. 

For providing uninterrupted power supply state requires nearly 2500 MWs of power at present. The restricted demand of power was nearly 700 MW for Jammu region and 800 MW for Kashmir region, which comes out at 1500 MW, but revenue recovery is falling every year. 

As per the data industry sector was to pay Rs 55.01 crore, while domestic sector Rs 216.14 crore and the agriculture sector owed Rs 147.81 crore for electricity consumed.

Adm helpless as beggars spread across the City.

YASH KHAJURIA:
Begging menace assumes alarming dimensions in cit...: Begging menace assumes alarming dimensions in city Yash Khajuria 12/8/2011 10:07:35 PM JAMMU, Dec 08: Begging, the most common urb...

Begging menace assumes alarming dimensions in city

Yash Khajuria

12/8/2011 10:07:35 PM

JAMMU,Dec 08: Begging, the most common urban problem has taken alarming dimensions in Jammu city, with children as young as six years in shabby conditions roaming the market places. 

Though it is banned, but in absence of strong anti-begging law and juvenile homes, administration has turned blind eye towards the menace. 

Most of these unfortunate souls are from outside the state and are allegedly being forced into the ‘profession’ by begging mafia. Come Monday, Friday or Saturday, a large number of beggars can be found outside temples and mosques seeking Rupees one or two from the visitors. 
Other favourite destinations are bus stand and Raghunath temple, railway station, taxi stand, Jewel chowk and Kachi Chawani areas which remain abuzz with tourist pilgrims. 

“Beggars in Jammu are mostly from other parts of the country who are brought here under a well planned strategy not only to fleece but also to commit petty crimes- the government however seems to be sleeping over the issue” said Mohan Kuamr a sales man in Purani Mandi area. 
As per Ranjeet Sharma, who runs an NGO, since last few years begging has become a trade. 
He said that there is a big syndicate behind the begging menace who mostly target affluent class, tourists and foreigners. 
“ There is a Need to rehabilitate young girls and children who unfortunately have got trapped into this social evil due to one or the other reason”, 

Deputy Commissioner Sanjeev Verma said that the 
administration has taken several measures to deal with the menace like seeking help of police to break the circle, but still lot needs to be done. 
Verma, however, said that if the legal measures are initiated against the children, then there will be the problem of keeping them in custody as there are no juvenile homes. 
For being the city of temples, Jammu is a paradise for the beggars who mostly come from other states like Orrisa, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Gujarat along with their families, with the hope of getting good almshere. 
Empty spaces under the Flyovers, footpaths are the sweet homes of these people and even some have developed colonies in the areas close to the city.

J-K all set to host U/19 Cricket, Wu-Shu C’ship

56^th National School Games

J-K all set to host U/19 Cricket, Wu-Shu C’ship

Yash Khajuria

12/8/2011 11:38:05 AM

Jammu, Dec 07: After the successful hosting of sporting events of national repute in various disciplines, the  J and K state once again is braced up to host two events in the disciplines of cricket and wu-shu.   The School Games Federation of India (SGFI) has  allotted J and K to host Cricket U/19 Girls Tournament and Wu-Shu Championship in the 56^th National School Games (NSG).

   Both the tournaments will be played in Jammu from 15^th to 20^th December. Mohammad Ayaz Khan, District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO) Jammu while talking to TNI said the venues for conducting the cricket matches are being finalised.  “We are in the final stages of selecting the venues for cricket tournament”, said DYSSO Jammu adding “ he wu-shu championship will be held at Gymnasium Hall, University of Jammu”.

He further said that various committees have been  constituted for smooth conduct both tournaments.   “The department will leave no stone unturned to make the tournaments a great success”, said Ayaz Khan.He (DYSSO Jammu) also exuded confidence that State contingent will perform well in the championships.    “As hosts, the onus is on to excel in both championships and also to prove our worth at national level”, DYSSO added.

    When asked about the performance of the State contingent in the ongoing National School Games (NSG) in various disciplines across the country, DYSSO Jammu said “the State contingent is doing well in various disciplines and we are hopeful of another record medal haul”.