DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Sh Manohar Lal, commended the Haryana Government for its significant efforts in reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses and strengthening the power distribution system over the past decade. During the Financial Year 2023-24, AT&C losses in Haryana have been reduced to 10.8 per cent. Sh Manohar Lal also praised the state's "Mhara Gaon Jagmag Gaon" scheme, which aims to provide 24-hour electricity to villages. He highlighted that the initiative has received widespread appreciation across the country for its effectiveness and impact. Manohar Lal was presiding over a meeting to review the progress of Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), here today. Haryana Energy Minister Sh Anil Vij and Senior officers of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) and Ministry of Power, Government of India were also present in the meeting.

The Ministry of Power, Government of India, launched the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) in 2021 with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers, while ensuring affordable power through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector. The scheme also aims to reduce AT&C losses to a pan-India level of 12-15 per cent and reduce the ACS-ARR gap to zero by 2024-25. With a total outlay of Rs 3, 03,758 crore, the estimated grant component of the scheme is Rs 97,631 crore. The Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is the nodal agency for implementation of RDS Scheme in Haryana.

While reviewing the progress of the scheme, Union Minister Sh Manohar Lal directed to expedite the process of awarding contracts and ensure their timely completion. He also emphasized the need to improve the Integrated Rating (IR) and Consumer Service Rating of Discoms (CSRD) by enhancing consumer satisfaction. The DHBVNL and UHBVNL have achieved an A+ rating for two consecutive financial years, 2021-22 and 2022-23, along with B and B+ CSRD ratings for the same periods. In addition, the Minister suggested that, for the convenience of consumers, separate electricity bills should be generated for domestic and commercial categories.

The Union Minister also reviewed progress of various infrastructure works of Discoms, fund utilization, smart meterting and other financial parameters and gave necessary directions to the concerned officers.

It was informed in the meeting that under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, an amount of Rs 6695 crore has been sanctioned to Discome including 1527 crore to UHBVN and 5168 crore to DHBVN. Out of Rs 5168 crore, an amount of Rs 3584 crore has been sanctioned for Faribabad and Gurugram smart distribution works.
(editor@dailyworld.in)