Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal, on June 12, 2025, inaugurated a series of grid upgrade projects in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
The inauguration was conducted during the minister’s meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other senior officials of the UT of J&K.
Role of RDSS
During the meeting, power sector issues in the UT of J&K were deliberated. The UT highlighted the role that Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) of Central Government has played in bringing improvement in the power distribution sector and in strengthening electricity distribution infrastructure for the remote areas of the UT. The UT of J&K also thanked Union Minister for approving the revised cost for RDSS works.
The minister advised the UT to expeditiously implement the works sanctioned under RDSS. He advised UT to take up prepaid smart metering works in a time bound manner, starting with Government establishments and subsequently for C&I consumers. Based on experience and demonstration of benefits, the smart meters may be rolled out to other category of consumers.
Hydropower potential
He also emphasised that the UT has a huge hydropower potential which should be effectively utilised. He mentioned that UT should work in coordination with the Central Govt for skill development and capacity building of local workforce for hydro projects. He also asked UT to resolve pending issues in the ongoing projects of NHPC so as to have their early completion. He also requested UT to consider waiving-off of water cess levied on hydro projects which would help reduce the power supply costs and ultimately tariffs for the consumers.
Projects inaugurated
The various projects on which work was inaugurated include:
- Augmentation of 132/33kV Grid Station Awantipora from 145 MVA to 175 MVA
- Augmentation of Grid Station Wanpoh by way of replacement of age old 20 MVA, 132/33 kV power transformer by 50 MVA, 132/33 kV power transformer to be spared after augmentation of Grid Station Kulgam
- Augmentation of Grid substation Amargarh from 135MVA to 195 MVA
- Augmentation of Grid Sub Station Magam from 100MVA to 130 MVA
- Replacement of 50 MVA transformer bank at Kulgam Grid station by 80 MVA/100MVA
Smart metering in UT of J&K
Smart metering in the UT of J&K is taking place through two Centrally-sponsored schemes – Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). Under PMDP, which is now complete, a total of 6.66 lakh smart meters have been installed. As part of RDSS, a total of 14.07 lakh smart meters have been envisaged for installation by March 2027, of which 1.63 lakh have been installed so far.
Featured photograph sourced from Press Information Bureau (PIB)
