Ranchi, June 19: Union Minister for Power and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, held a review meeting with the Jharkhand government on Friday to assess the state’s electricity system and urban development plans. The discussions focused on the current state of power distribution, rising electricity demand, smart meters, solar energy, and the progress of various central schemes.
The minister stressed the need to enhance the power distribution system in Jharkhand, both in terms of strength and financial viability. He urged for effective measures to reduce losses faced by power companies and to increase revenue collection. Concerns were raised during the review about the relatively high levels of electricity theft and technical losses (AT&C losses) in the state. The minister called on the state government to formulate a concrete action plan to address these issues. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring timely payment of outstanding electricity bills by government departments.
It was decided in the meeting that efforts would be made to complete the installation of smart meters for high electricity-consuming commercial and industrial consumers by August 31, 2026. Additionally, there was an agreement to expedite the process of installing smart meters for other consumer categories. The minister highlighted the need to gradually replace conventional electricity meters in government offices and institutions with prepaid meters, which would streamline the payment process for electricity bills.
The meeting also reviewed the state’s future electricity needs and the expansion of the transmission network. Given the rising demand, discussions were held regarding new projects and necessary infrastructure.
Furthermore, the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Free Electricity Scheme and the PM KUSUM Scheme was also assessed. The minister urged the state government to accelerate these initiatives and ensure that more people benefit from them. He advised the installation of solar power plants on the rooftops of government buildings to reduce electricity costs.
Progress in electrification in tribal areas was also discussed. The central government emphasized the rapid implementation of relevant schemes. Senior officials from the Jharkhand government, including Minister Sudivya Kumar, were present at the meeting. The state government assured that it would expedite reforms in the electricity sector and the implementation of projects approved by the center. The Union Minister stated that the central government would continue to provide all possible support for the development of Jharkhand’s power sector and infrastructure.
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