HimVani
Shimla: Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today presented Rs 3565.60 crore budget estimate for Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board for FY-2012-11.
Dhumal, who also holds the portfolio of power minister, presented the budget estimates in the House before the Assembly got adjourned for the day, proposing Rs 580.29 crore additional revenue receipt, which would be generated by reducing 1.52 per cent transmission losses, saving power by means of rational efforts like implementing Atal Bijali Bachat Yojana effectively and by getting state’s share in various central and private sector power projects.
He said that HPSEB incurred Rs 33.70 crore loss on capital account in year 2009-10, but the capital revenue was expected to increase by Rs 81.15 crore in FY10-11. Citing the reasons for deficit in last year’s capital account, Dhumal said that the Regulatory Commission had deducted increase in power tariff; there was less valuation of employees’ salary by 13th Finance Commission and also reduction in generation owning to lean Monsoon season contributed to the deficit.
The Chief Minister disclosed that the state board has performed well to save transmission and distribution loss as compared to other states, as HPSEB recorded T&D loss of 13.52 per cent in year 2008-09 corresponding to average national T&D loss of 25 per cent. HPSEB is targeting to bring down T&D loss to 12 per cent in this FY. He said that if the state board remains successful in bringing the loss by even one per cent it would save Rs 20 core. He said that Rs 630.27 crore is being allocated to improve transmission system as Rs 143.42 crore would be provided form Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Yojana(RGGVY) and Rs 187.59 core from Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Restoration Program (RAPDRP).
He said that under RGGVY scheme, Rs 341.86 crore would also spent on electrification of 109 non-electrified hamlets. Dhumal said that under the scheme, 2,092 new transformers, 7,903 km HT AND LT line and 44,496 new households would be connected with power connections, including 12,483 BPL families. Dhumal added that Rs 231 crore were being spent during next three years to make HPSEB fully automated by bringing it under Information Technology Scheme. The CM did not indicate any power cuts to save electricity in the industrial belt.
