A meeting of Assurance Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council was held here today under the Chairmanship of Dr. Shehnaz Ganai. The Committee discussed the Action Taken Reports (ATRs) pertaining to Power Development Department (PDD).Legislators, Mr. Ali Mohammad Dar, Master Noor Hussain, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Sofi Mohammad Yousuf also attended the meeting.Commissioner Secretary PDD, Mr. Dheeraj Gupta briefed the Committee regarding the functioning of the department.Regarding the assurances Mr. Gupta informed that an amount of Rs. 1818.75 lakh has been authorized for replacement of Diesel Generator (DG) sets and High Speed Diesel (HSD) during financial year 2015-16 for Ladakh region and sufficient stock of HSD is available to provide power through the DG set. The balance funds available under Capex Budget amounting to Rs. 606.25 lakh are being released.
He further informed the Committee that due to damage in tower of 66KV Chutak-Kargil transmission line, Chutak power house had to be shut down in the month of October, 2014, and due to which electricity was provided by DG set. On the assurance of Deputy Chief Minister, Rs. 61 lakh were provided for procurement of HSD for power supply to district Kargil.Regarding another assurance it was informed in the meeting that department is making all out efforts to meter all registered consumers in the State including District Poonch for facilitating 24 hour power supply. It was further informed in the meeting the damaged transformers of Khurhama and Varnoo of district Kupwara stand repaired and installed.Secretary, Legislative Council, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhat, Development Commissioner Power,Sheikh Gul Ayaz, Chief Engineer PDD, Kashmir Mr. B.A Khan, Chief Engineer PDD, Jammu, Mr. S C Sharma, SEs of Leh, Kargil, Kupwara and Poonch districts besides senior officers of the Council Secretariat were also present in the meeting.