Union Minister for Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar has pressed for accelerated reforms in West Bengal’s power sector, urging the state to fast-track smart meter deployment, clear outstanding government dues and strengthen transmission infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand.
According to sources, during a high-level review meeting held in Kolkata on Saturday with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the minister emphasised that timely implementation of ongoing reforms would enhance the financial viability of the State’s power utilities and strengthen energy security.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of key power sector initiatives and urban development schemes in West Bengal. Discussions focused on the implementation of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), the operational and financial performance of power distribution companies (DISCOMs), and measures required to improve efficiency and sustainability in the sector, sources said.
Highlighting the importance of financial discipline, Khattar stressed the need for prompt clearance of outstanding dues by government departments and called for a robust mechanism to ensure regular settlement of payments. He particularly emphasised the conversion of electricity meters installed in government establishments to prepaid smart meters.
Reviewing the status of smart metering in the state, the Union Minister urged expeditious implementation. The West Bengal Government committed to achieving saturation of smart meters across government establishments by June 2026 and completing their conversion to prepaid mode by August 2026.
The minister also underscored the need for compliance with Supreme Court directions regarding regulatory assets and reviewed the State’s resource adequacy and intra-state transmission planning. He advised the state government to ensure that transmission infrastructure expansion keeps pace with growing power demand.
Progress under the PM-KUSUM scheme and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana also came up for review. The state government assured that the implementation under both flagship programmes would be accelerated to achieve prescribed targets, sources added.
The minister said that sustained efforts in these areas would significantly improve the financial health of the state DISCOMs and contribute to making West Bengal’s power sector more self-reliant. He reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to extending full support and cooperation for the state’s overall development.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari welcomed the Union Minister and thanked him for reviewing the State’s power sector initiatives. He assured that all necessary measures would be taken for the timely execution of sanctioned projects and for improving the overall performance of the power sector in West Bengal.
