Overlooked for years, PDD finally to be restructured

Sumit Hakhoo
Tribune News Service
Jammu, September 10

Post abrogation of Article 370, the state administration has initiated a restructuring and reorganisation process of the Power Development Department (PDD) which is likely to privitise some functions in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir  and Ladakh.

Sources said as per the provisions of the J&K Re-organisation Act-2019 passed by Parliament revoking the special status of the state, the PDD is being re-organised into three Companies (PSUs), Ladakh Power Distribution Company Limited, Jammu Power Distribution Company Limited and Kashmir Power Distribution Company. Only Ladakh Power Distribution Company Limited is to be incorporated as the rest two are already incorporated when J&K was a state but their operationalisation was not being carried out due to political reasons, but now, the road has been cleared after the special status was revoked.

 A major exercise is being taken up for the transfer of assets, employees and terminal benefits and examine the impact of the repeal of the State Electricity Act, 2010 and applicability of the Central Electricity Act, 2003 on these proposed new companies. “Consultants will finalise geo-technical boundaries of the existing and new companies emerging and incorporation of new companies for Ladakh UT which will also have a separate power generation company for hydro projects”, said a senior official in the PDD.

As per the officials, the existing J&K State Transmission Company Limited will be removed from the register of companies in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act and distribution of its mandate into three companies will be made. There is also a plan to re-organise J&K State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL) into territorial jurisdiction of UT of Ladakh and UT of Jammu and Kashmir. Anil Kumar Sharma, General Manager, (GM-Civil), JKSPDCL, revealed that tenders had been invited for reorganisation of the PDD but refused to share further details. A Senior Engineer in PDD revealed that the operational, under-construction hydro projects, transmission line project and the PMDP projects at present lying with JKSPDCL in Ladakh would be in the domain of Ladakh Power Development Company Limited.