J&K sees dip in AT&C power losses by nearly 28%: Union Minister

By: Riyaz Bhat

Srinagar: Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar Thursday said that there was a decline in Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses in Jammu and Kashmir by nearly 28 percent.

But he was quick to add that AT&C losses in Jammu and Kashmir were still above the national average.

The Minister also said that the power theft has reduced in J&K following the installation of smart meters.

Speaking at a press conference—marking 11 years of the BJP-led Central government, Khattar as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said, “Earlier Jammu and Kashmir was facing a huge power theft. There were 60 percent of Aggregate Technical and Commercial Losses (AT&C) that has been reduced to only 32 percent.”

“When I asked about the reasons for the losses, I was informed that there used to be illegal hooking on electricity lines. But now people have accepted the fact that installing smart meters is for their good,” he said.

Khattar further said that there is a huge contribution of hydro power of Jammu and Kashmir to the power sector of India. “We will strengthen the existing power projects of Jammu and Kashmir and very soon we will introduce new power projects here especially after the abeyance of Indus Water Treaty, we have a new source of setting up of power projects.”

The Minister said, “In power sector, there was a power deficiency of 4.5 percent in 2013 and now we have become power sufficient and with the non-fossil power we will have surplus power.”

“In the non-fossil power, we have kept a target of 40 percent earlier which further increased by 8 percent. Very soon we will achieve the target of 50 percent,” he said. —(KNO)