The power woes of people in the Valley are going to increase further in the harsh winter as the Power Development Department (PDD) has decided to prolong the cuts in both metered and non-metered areas.
The Chief Engineer of the PDD said they had sent a proposal of the winter power schedule to the government for approval. The department was going to publish the new power schedule within two days.
“For metered areas there will be power cuts of three hours during the day, while in all non-metered areas there will be power cuts from seven to nine hours every day,” said Chief Engineer, PDD, Bashir Ahmad Khan.
Many people believe the additional curtailment in the metered areas is against the norms where the department is bound to provide round-the-clock power supply. But the department has been violating its own schedule by resorting to long and unscheduled powers cuts in both metered and non-metered areas.
“When meters were installed here, the department promised round-the-clock supply, but every winter the power woes worsen and every year the government promises better supply. The government must help people in winter when most of the work is dependent on electricity. They are contradicting and violating their own rules,” said Nazim Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar, where most of the areas are metered.
In villages the people are also angry over increasing unscheduled power cuts. The villages face tough time in winters due to bad weather as well as the increasing load-shedding.
“We don’t understand what is happening with the power supply. There are many unscheduled power cuts and it is going to worsen with wet weather like snow and rain,” said a resident of Baramulla.
An official of the PDD, while justifying the move, said people used more supply then mentioned on their agreements.
“Our registered capacity is 1,000 MW, but we supply 1,200 MW during normal seasons. In winter, due to cold and harsh weather, consumers use more electricity, which creates power deficit. If people use supply according to their agreements it will improve,” said the official, adding that due to excess use of electricity by people the department had no option but to use power cuts to meet the need.
Electricity worries to increase in Kashmir valley in winter
