SRINAGAR: In a strategic move to alleviate the impact of a 15% tariff increase, the officials on Friday the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) has announced the withdrawal of Electricity Duty (ED) in its revised power tariff.

The decision, effective from 1st December 2023, comes following the issuance of a new Tariff Order by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), Jammu & Kashmir.

The JERC, after thorough consideration and adherence to standard procedures, implemented a 15% tariff hike while maintaining fixed charges at their existing levels. Notably, the revised overall tariff rate remains below the actual procurement cost incurred by the corporations in supplying power to consumers.

To safeguard consumers from an increase in their electricity bills, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a proactive step by withdrawing the 15% Electricity Duty previously applied to energy charges in the existing tariff structure. This calculated decision ensures that the overall impact on consumers' electricity bills is nullified.

a sample calculation for a domestic consumer consuming 500 units per month reveals energy charges of Rs. 2185 (calculated at Rs. 3.80 per unit, plus 15% Electricity Duty), fixed charges of Rs. 40, resulting in a total electricity bill of Rs. 2225.

In comparison, the new tariff for 2023-24 sees an increase in energy charges to Rs. 2175 (calculated at Rs. 4.35 per unit), maintaining fixed charges at Rs. 40, resulting in a total electricity bill of Rs. 2215.

Notably, despite the 15% tariff increase, the withdrawal of the 15% Electricity Duty ensures no increase in the final electricity bill for consumers.

In a remarkable move towards enhancing power supply efficiency, the PDD has successfully implemented a series of reforms aimed at delivering improved and high-quality power supply to consumers at an affordable price.

A significant milestone in this reform journey is the restructuring of the power department by unbundling the departmental structure into two Distribution Companies (DISCOMS) and a Transmission Corporation. This long-awaited reform aligns Jammu & Kashmir with other Indian States/UTs, ensuring consumer services are enhanced while ensuring the sustainability of the power sector.

To facilitate this restructuring, a substantial financial package of Rs. 5000 Crores was allocated for the comprehensive upgrade of infrastructure under various Central Sector Schemes. This investment aims to create adequate capacities in almost every district, providing regular and quality power supply to citizens.

To ensure that the newly formed corporations are provided with a clean balance sheet, all the outstanding dues on account of power purchase, accumulated to the tune of Rs. 30700 Crores over several years, were taken over by the Government and cleared by availing soft loans under GOI Schemes like Atmanirbhar Bharat and LPS Rules 2022. Accordingly, a conducive platform has been provided to the discoms to operate on sound business principles and deliver optimal services to consumers, thereby enhancing overall consumer satisfaction levels.

In the present system as well, the discoms continue to grapple with high losses attributed mainly to power theft, poor metering and low tariff rates, which are a major cause of concern not only for the department but also threaten the overall efficiency of the sector. The high Aggregate Technical & Commercial (AT&C) losses, reaching 44% in Jammu and 58% in Kashmir as compared to the national average of 16.44%, have left DISCOMS unable to meet power purchase expenses, leaving aside other critical expenditures like Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and capital investments, which still continue to be supported by Government.

For ensuring financial sustainability of power sector, even GOI has launched schemes like Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) where-under conditional grants linked to the performance of discoms on certain pre-defined parameters have been provisioned.

The parameters which are required to be maintained for mainting the proper fund-flow under the schemes, the DISCOMS need to implement crucial measures such as adopting cost-reflective tariffs, reducing AT&C losses, reducing ACS-ARR Gap and various other reforms to ensure financial sustainability of the sector, there by ensuring uninterrupted power supply in line with the evolving living standards of consumers. In today’s modern era, as the entire country progresses towards a digital India with a focus on on-demand services, the power sector is no exception.

It is analogous to any other commodity we purchase from the market, where the consumer pays, and the seller provides. Fundamentally, consumers seek nothing more than uninterrupted power supply, whether they are urban or rural consumers. Additionally, it is the duty of every utility to meet the expectations and needs of the consumers it serves.(GNS)

According to police 2 IEDs, 2 handgrenades, 1 pistol with 2 magazines, 24 cartridges, 1 timer switch, 8 detonators, and batteries were recovered from them.

He said the terror module was handled by Firdaus Ahmed Bhat, an active member of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

The police also said it is a major blow to terror module attempting to disturb peace in Punjab. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Two militants belonging to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were neutralized in an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district Police said.

Police as per news agency Kashmir Scroll said the killed militants have been identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq, also known as Abrar.

This operation was led by the security forces in coordination with intelligence agencies. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir has confirmed to news agency Kashmir Scroll that one of the militants, Abrar, was involved in the targeted killing of Kashmiri Pandit, late Sanjay Sharma.

Meanwhile, this successful operation marks a significant achievement for the security forces in their ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region. (KS)

SRINAGAR: Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that two militants including LeT commander Uzair Khan has been killed in Gadole gunfight in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar confirmed to GNS about the killing of LeT commander Uzair Khan.

He further said that second militants body is lying near the encounter site. Search operation will continue to locate if there is any more militant in the area.

On Wednesday last week, Army colonel, a Major, two soldiers and a DySP were killed in a gunfight with militants in Gadole area of Anantnag. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police on Friday claimed to have arrested two Militant associates of Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that acting on specific intelligence input, an intensive search was conducted by Pulwama Police in the apple orchards of Gudoora Pulwama. During search operation, 02 militant associates were apprehended tactfully. They have been identified as Suhail Firdous son of Firdous Ahmad Sheikh resident of Mahradpora Utterpora Puchal and Shahid Gul son of Gh Mohd. Bhat resident of Wagum Pulwama.

The police spokesman further stated that from their possession incriminating materials were recovered. The investigation revealed that both the accused persons are Militant associates of an active militant Aqib Sher Gojri linked with proscribed militant outfit LeT.

 Preliminary investigation also reveals that arrested militant associates were in a conspiracy with militant Aqib Sher-Gojri to carry out militant attacks in Pulwama, he said.

A case vide FIR No. 239/2023 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station & further investigation has been taken up, reads the statement. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police on Friday said that its  a small team of Srinagar police arrested three militant associates linked with proscribed militant outfit TRF, offshoot of proscribed militant outfit LeT in Natipora area of Srinagar.

In handout to GNS, the police said that acting on specific intelligence, a small team of Srinagar police at a checkpoint established at Harnabal Natipora arrested three militant associates linked with proscribed militant outfit TRF. They have been identified as Imran Ahmad Najar son of Late Abdul Rehman Najar resident of Bulbul Bagh Baramulla, Waseem Ahmad Matta son of Tariq Ahmad Matta resident of Qamarwari Srinagar and Wakeel Ahmad Bhat son of Nazir Ahmad Bhat resident of Pazalpora Bijbehara. 

The spokesman further said that from their possession, police recovered 03 hand grenades, 10 pistol rounds, 25 AK-47 rounds and other incriminating materials.

It is pertinent to mention here that Wakeel Ahmad Bhat was earlier an active militant linked with proscribed militant outfit ISJK & was lodged in jail for two years and was released recently from Central Jail on bail. During preliminary investigation, it came to fore that the trio had collected the explosive substances and ammunition from active militants of TRF for carrying militant activities in Srinagar city, thereby averted a terror threat, he said.

Subsequently, a case FIR number 46/23 under section 3/4 Explosive Act, 7/25 Arms Act, 18, 23, 39 UAPA Act was registered at Police Station Chanapora and investigation has been set into motion, reads the statement.(GNS)

SRINAGAR: An overground worker of Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit was on Wednesday arrested in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, officials said. 

They told GNS that Police in a joint operation with Army's 26 Assam Rifles, CRPF's 3rd Battalion and BSF's K2 apprehended an OGW at Turkpora Junction in Bandipora.

Identifying the apprehended militant associate as one Javid Ahmad Malla son of Mohammad Kamal Malla, a resident of Dardpora Bandipora, the officials said two hand grenades were recovered from the possession of the accused. 

"The accused has been taken into custody for questioning and in the meantime a case registered in this regard under Arms and UA(P) Act", they further said. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police claimed that it arrested two militant associates from Bandipora in the Baramulla district late Monday evening.

The militant associates have been identified as Dayem Majid Khan and Ubair Tariq Khan, both residents of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Police said that soldiers from 28 Rashtriya Rifles a team from Baramulla police after receiving information about the movement of militant associates laid a mobile checkpoint at Bus Stop Chak Tapper Kreeri area of Baramulla district.

Both the militant associates were apprehended tactfully though they tried to flee from the spot, police said adding that during their personal search 2 Chinese Pistols, 2 Pistol Magazines, 14 live Pistol rounds, one ID Card, and a Xerox copy of Aadhar Card were recovered from their possession.

The duo has been booked under UA (P) Act & Arms Act at police station Kreeri.

Police further added that during preliminary investigation both the militant associates confessed that they are affiliated with the banned militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and had collected the arms & ammunition for target killing in District Baramulla. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: Police on tuesday claimed to have arrested two militants Associates affliated with Lashkar-i-Toiba oufit in Kreeri area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla.

In a handout GNS, the police said that on a specific information regarding movement of militants in Village Chak Tapper Kreeri, Joint forces of Baramulla Police & 29 RR placed a MVCP at Bus Stop Chak Tapper Kreeri.

The police spokesman further stated that two suspect persons who were coming from Chak Tapper towards Main Road Kreeri tried to flee while noticing joint naka party but was apprehended tactfully.

During their personal search 2 Chinese Pistols, 2 Pistol Magazines, 14 live Pistol rounds, 1 ID Card & 1 Xerox copy of Aadhar Card were recovered* from them and were taken into custody immediately. Who were later identified as Dayem Majeed Khan S/O Ab Majeed Khan R/O Check Panjigam Bandipora & Ubair Tariq S/O Tariq Ahmad Khan R/O Watrina Phalwanpora Panjigam Bandipora, he said.
     
During preliminary investigation both the terrorist Associates confessed that they are affiliated with banned militant organisation of LeT outfit and had collected the arms & ammunition for target killing in District Baramulla, he said.
                     
Case under Indian Arms Act & UA (P) Act was registered in Police Station Kreeri and investigations was taken up, reads the statement. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police alongwith security forces have arrested 05 militant associates linked with proscribed militancy outfit LeT in Budgam and recovered incriminating materials from their possession. 

In a statement issued to news agency Kashmir Scroll said that Police along with Army (62 RR) arrested 05 militant associates in Khag area of district Budgam. They have been identified as Rouf Ahmad Wani son of Abdul Majeed Wani resident of Bhatangan Khag, Hilal Ahmad Malik son of Ghulam Hassan Malik resident of Bathipora Khag, Tawfeeq Ahmad Dar son of Nazir Ahmad Dar resident of Nowrooz Baba Khag, Danish Ahmad Dar son of Manzoor Ahmad Dar resident of Dar Mohalla Nawrooz Baba Khag and Showkat Ali Dar son of Ali Mohammad Dar resident of Bathipora Khag, linked with proscribed militancy outfit LeT.

Incriminating materials have been recovered from their possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case record.