“Power supply reducing by more than 12 hours a day even in the metered areas despite payment of monthly power tariffs by both domestic and commercial consumers speaks volumes about the failures of KPDCL in maintaining the flow of power supply at the very beginning of summer season.”
Unscheduled power cuts going down to a record new low for about a month without any improvement ahead of the commencement of this year’s tourist season is not less than a nightmare for both the tourist stakeholders and as well as the domestic power consumers in Kashmir Valley. While the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd (KPDCL) was obliged to keep its commitment on 24 hour power supply after installation of smart meters in most of the areas of Srinagar city and major towns of Kashmir Valley , the power supply reducing by more than 12 hours a day even in the metered areas despite payment of monthly power tariffs by both domestic and commercial consumers speaks volumes about the failures of KPDCL in maintaining the flow of power supply at the very beginning of summer season in months of March and April in both metered and non metered areas of Kashmir Valley. While the Government itself has been claiming an unprecedented rise in the power generation that is quite sufficient for supply to even neighbouring states the KPDCL owes a lot of explanations for huge disturbances in the power distribution system in Kashmir Valley. Interestingly there is no word from the Government even on the execution of the Prime Minister’s Power Development Program (PMDP) and Integrated Power Development scheme under which power transformers had to be installed a fresh and bear conductors were to be replaced by LT cable networking across Kashmir.
“While the power supply reduces as much unprecedentedly in summer months in Jammu division as it reduces unprecedentedly during mid winter periods in Kashmir Valley the onus of balancing the power supply in Kashmir and Jammu division with focus on increasing distribution to Kashmir Valley in view of the commencement of summer tourist season lies on the top functionaries overseeing the power distribution system at Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd (J&K PDCL).”
Another key factor still contributing hugely to the simmering power cuts is the rise in A&T losses which have now reached 54% despite power disconnection drive against the defaulters. While the delays in the completion of the power infrastructural programs head to no dead end, the installation of solar rooftops announced last winter is yet to begin and interestingly the installation of solar rooftops can reduce the increasing stress on the hydropower distribution in both Kashmir Valley and as well as Jammu division. In a very sorry state of affairs the Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd (J&K PDCL) does not bother to give explanations even about the share it receives from the Northern Power Grid Corporation Of India and the power supply it generates for equal distribution to Kashmir and Jammu divisions. While the power supply reduces as much unprecedentedly in summer months in Jammu division as it reduces unprecedentedly during mid winter periods in Kashmir Valley the onus of balancing the power supply in Kashmir and Jammu division with focus on increasing distribution to Kashmir Valley in view of the commencement of summer tourist season lies on the top functionaries overseeing the power distribution system at Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation Ltd (J&K PDCL).
