Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Monday said his priority would be to modernise the power department by utilising modern technology.
Mein also said he would make efforts to improve power supply across the state and raise revenue collection by checking energy pilferage and revenue losses.
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“We have a big responsibility as the challenges are many. We have to work together to draw a road map for the future course of action in order to take forward the department,” Mein, also the minister-in-charge of power, said while addressing a review meeting of the department at his office in Itanagar.
He also said the graph of development in Arunachal Pradesh has jumped especially in the communication sector in eastern Arunachal over the last few years due to the coordinated effort by the ministers and the departmental officers.
He urged the departmental officers to work with the same spirit and zeal and sought cooperation from them to take development to a newer height during his tenure.
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Mein asked the power and hydro-power departments to work in close coordination along with the other stakeholder such as Power Grid Corporation India Limited, which he termed as a big partner in the development of the power sector in the state.
He also asked them to educate him on all the issues of the department without hesitation.
Mein sought another meeting through video conferencing with the deputy commissioners of the districts to resolve land acquisition issues for setting up of remaining power sub-stations in various circles, divisions and sub-divisions.
He said he would meet the union power minister soon to apprise him about the issues and place requirements of the state.
Earlier, chief engineer (Eastern Electrical Zone) O. Moyong presented an overview of the department.
He said that under the Deendayal Upadhyay Gramjyoti Yojana and Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Har Ghar Bijli Yojna), 1,109 villages and 50,623 families were provided electricity connection during the 2018-19 fiscal.
He also said that the department collected revenue of Rs 266.34 crore during 2018-19 with aggregate technical and commercial losses of 55.59%.
Moyong highlighted the manpower shortage and funding issues of the department too.
Chief engineer (Transmission, Planning and Monitoring Zone) T. Mara and superintending engineers of various circles highlighted the progress of various state and central government schemes, new schemes proposed and issues of the department to the DCM.
Commissioner (Power & Hydro-power) G.S. Meena also spoke at the meeting.