MASROOR AHMAD
SRINAGAR: Despite the end of the harsh winter, the Kashmir Valley is still facing power crises, with metered and non-metered areas subjected to unscheduled cuts. As a result, consumers are worried, demanding a new schedule of electricity for spring season and the month of Ramadhan. Amid frequent power outages and trouble cuts across the Valley, Kashmir Power Developed Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has said that it is facing power shortage of about 400 Megawatts (MWs). A top official of KPDCL said that the DISCOM was facing a dearth of power. Asked about the long durational power curtailments and unscheduled power cuts, the official said that there was a huge power shortage in Kashmir. “As of now, sufficient power is not available with us. Currently, KPDCL is reeling under shortage of electricity”, he added.
The official said, “There is a shortage of nearly 300-400 Megawatts. In view of the power shortage, there may be some areas in Kashmir which would be facing distress cuts and unscheduled outage.” Earlier this week, the Power Development Department had said that it sorted the power outage matter which its consumers were facing from past weeks. Besides, it also informed that it was revising the load curtailment programme to minimise distress power cuts. A senior KPDCL official said that despite the shortage in the availability of power, they are trying to streamline the supply and steps are afoot to improve the situation. “We are at it. Hopefully supply will be better ahead of the fasting month of Ramadhan,” he said, and refused to elaborate further.
The PDD Higher officials had said that the department was focusing on streaming the high loss making feeders where AT&C losses are high because of the power theft. He said, “We are trying to make some restrictions out there to minimise the losses. We have some feeders where the losses are very high and in those areas will have some extra power curtailments.” About the unscheduled power cuts in some metered areas, officials said, “We have even detected the losses in metered areas too and issued strict actions to the concerned officials to look into it. Losses in metered areas are not acceptable at all.” About the unscheduled power cuts and extra curtailments in almost majority of the areas in Kashmir, officials had informed that due to the recent snowfall, the electricity load has increased. “Power demand has increased post snowfall. Our supply position remains the same,” he said.
When asked about any change in the power generation, they added that it has not changed. “The power procurement from the centre and the local power generation remains the same”, he added.