SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Despite having enormous potential for power generation, Kashmir is yet to see real best days in power sector and that too in harsh winters. Throughout the year, officials of Power Development Department (PDD) talk about improving scenario and assuring better supply. The real test of their assurances and promises is winter season. People expect better power supply in winter so that they don’t suffer but the ground situation is not so good.
Meanwhile, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) on Monday issued a fresh power curtailment schedule for Srinagar in winter with effect from November 15.
According to new curtailment schedule, that the metered areas will face 4 and half hours curtailment every day and non-metered areas will face curtailment of eight hours in a day. Earlier Chief Engineer KPDCL told reporters that two of our transmission lines are under augmentation works,” he said, adding, “Transmission lines Wagoora-Zainakote and 132 KV Mir Bazar-Wanpora are offline as augmentation work is being done to increase their capacity. As these lines are situated in places where paddy is grown, we were unable to complete this job earlier and had to wait until the harvest was complete.”
Interacting with STATE TIMES correspondent, people said that PDD should start winter preparedness earlier and chalk out a strategy for facing winters and urged LG administration to look into the matter so that they may not face hardships in harsh winter.