To avoid frequent load shedding in residential areas, the government is planning to curtail power supply to industrial areas of the state during peak hours.
By doing so, the government is expecting to save about 200 MWs of electricity.“The suggestion to curtail power supply to industries was given during a meeting convened by senior cabinet minister Syed Altaf Bukhari with officers of Power Development Department (PDD) on directions of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” sources said.
They said during the meeting, minister said they are taking many measures to avoid extra load shedding.
Sources said Bukhari suggested curtailing the power supply to industrial areas during peak hours to reduce the load on domestic lines.
“You can cut the power supply to industrial areas (like it was a norm in the past) between 6-10 pm so that we can save energy,” he told the officers.
The minister told the officials that by curtailing the power supply to industries, they can save about 200 MWs of energy.
“We can adopt this strategy at least for the peak season of Chilla-e-Kalan,” he said.
PDD has been resorting to frequent power cuts in the Valley triggering massive protests.
Expressing concern over the frequent power cuts, Bukhari said the government wants an end to it. “The over loading and illegal practises is the main cause of the erratic power supply and we are going to act tough against the defaulters”.
He asked the PDD officials to devise a strategy to stop this illegal practise.
The minister, according to sources, asked the officers to devise a strategy for checking pilferage of electricity by cracking down on people involved in “power theft”.
He asked the officials to seek assistance from police in lodging FIRs against those involved in electricity pilferage.
“The government has to act tough to avert the major crisis in future. This can act as a deterrent for other people,” the minister told the officials.
