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CAG report points to unprofessional approach by APDCL

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 19 - Implementation of the Reconstructed-Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme (R-APDRP) in Assam under the Integrated Power Development Scheme by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (AODCL) has been without any comprehensive plan and the DPRs were prepared without adequate survey and field study.

The CAG report that assessed the performance of the project also revealed glaring anomalies and unprofessional execution of the project which was taken up by the APDCL in November 2009 with a completion schedule of five years (2014). The deadline was missed by a long stretch and the CAG report covered the performance of the project from April 2009 to March 2017.

The CAG report also pulled up APDCL for giving undue benefit to a firm Win Power Infra Pvt Ltd (WPIL), besides supply of substandard distribution transformers by Neccon Power & Infra Limited.

APDCL also failed in its prime objective of bringing down the Aggregate Technical & Commercial Loss (AT&C loss) to the targeted level of 15 per cent from 29 per cent. The report stated that there was an overall reduction of only six per cent (from 29 pc to 23 pc) till 2016-17, and that only in five out of the 47 completed project areas, the AT&C loss was at or below the targeted level.

�The company did not prepare any comprehensive plan for implementation of the scheme works in the State. This led to lack of proper foresight at the planning stage and mid-course corrections in design, work specifications, change in project sites on account of defective DPRs,� the report noted.

In a serious violation of financial norms, APDCL included additional 15 per cent on the cost estimates prepared as per Schedule of Rates (SoR) without approval of the Government of India. The project cost, was, thus overestimated by Rs 77.87 crore due to preparation of inflated cost estimates.

In another anomaly, APDCL took an unreasonably high period of two years in selection of the IT Implementing Agency (ITIA) after appointment of IT consultant. �The company had further taken a period of 14 months in handing over the Data Centre building to ITIA. As a result, ITIA could complete the works (March 2016) after 39 months of the scheduled date,� the report added.

In yet another ridiculous exhibition of unprofessionalism on APDCL�s part, the warranty period of 15,657 prepaid meters valued at Rs 9.68 crore had expired before installation. Moreover, it could not install 21,827 prepaid meters valuing Rs 14.60 crore out of 24,212 meters as the meters procured did not have the features relating to recording of power factor reading and maximum demand.

APDCL never updated the GIS for changes in assets and consumer base in the project areas despite the fact that to perform energy audit and accounting of project areas, an up-to-date GIS is crucial.

The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) project which was originally scheduled for completion by March 2014 could not be completed so far (September 2017). �The company could install only 29 Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) out of total 36 RTUs planned for installation in an equal number of 33/11 KV substations. Further, the company could make only 13 RTUs operational,� it said, adding that the company could not develop the Distribution Management System (DMS).

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