Guwahati: In addition to approving the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited’s (APDCL) installation of smart metres, the Assam government on Wednesday approved a number of other significant decisions during the cabinet meeting.
The significant decisions made during today’s cabinet meeting included promoting ACS and APS officers and paying them equally, improving the state’s power structure and including former soldiers in police training.
Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote, “In today’s #AssamCabinet, we took a number of vital decisions regarding installation of Smart Meters, enhancement of power supply, inclusion of retired army personnel in police training and bringing parity in pay/promotion of ACS & APS officers.”
The key highlights of today’s cabinet meeting:
Boosting Power Scenario
Revised administrative clearance was given for 7 projects, and AEGCL used saved funds from the Trade Development Fund (TDF) to complete 3 continuing projects that were still ongoing under the scheme.
It will improve power scenario in South Salmara, Barpeta and Bongaigaon districts and benefit around 30 lakh consumers.
Ongoing projects under TDF:
- 132/33 kV, 2X16 MVA, Hatsingimari Substation along with associated line (90% completed).
- 132 kV S/C line on D/C tower from Salakati to APM (75% completed).
- 132/33 kV, 2X25 MVA, Barpeta Substation along with associated LILO -Line-In-Line-Out (Transmission line and substation completed, civil works in progress).
Retd Army Personnel in Police Training
34 retired Army personnel will be hired/engaged as additional superintendents of police (training) for all the battalions on a contractual basis in order to boost the training programmes inside Police Battalions.
- Officers to report to Special DIG (Training) for meeting core objectives.
Boosting Installation of Smart Meters
Approval to implementation of Smart Metering in APDCL under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.
- Project to be completed by: 31 March 2025.
- Estimated cost: Rs 4,536.79 crore.
- Smart Meters to be installed: 58 lakh in 3 years.
Benefits
- Ensure targeted reduction in APDCL’s AT&C losses from 18.5% (2020 21) to 13.5% by 2024-25.
- Smart Metering in Transformers and Feeders for comprehensive energy audit to identify loss-making areas.
- Create ample employment opportunities.
The APDCL must install and use smart metres alongside the standard metres that are already in place for at least 30 days in order to compare the reading differences between the two systems.
Parity in Pay/Promotion of ACS & APS Officers
The approval to introduce parity to pay and promotions (up to Selection Grade level) for both ACS and APS officers will help to eliminate the wage gap between ACS and APS officers.
- The decision will ensure faster promotion and broad uniformity and standardisation across services.