Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: Darker nights are looming ahead in Kashmir with Power Development Department issuing electricity curtailment schedule in this week.
Kashmir has been facing abrupt power cuts since November 7, when valley received season's first snowfall.
An official of Power Development Department said there would be further reduction in power supply from next few days.
"There will be at least 6-hour power curtailment in metered areas and over 8-hours in non-metered areas," the official said.
Chief Engineer, Power Development Department, Kashmir, Hashmat Qazi said there is a need for power curtailment schedule in view of increase in power demand.
"We did not curtail power this year till snowfall hit Kashmir on November 7. The load has increased now. We are framing power curtailment schedule which will be issued within few days," Chief Engineer said.
The PDD has 1200 MWs of electricity available. However, during winters, the demand reaches over 2000 MWs.
The Centre has been allotting additional 700 MWs of power to Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters. But there has been no improvement in new Union Territory as PDD has failed to augment the existing infrastructure to receive additional electricity from the central grids.
"We provide on an average 1200 MWs of electricity to consumers in Kashmir. During winters the demand reaches to 2000 MWs. There is no chance of improvement in power supply this winter as PDD has failed to put in place required infrastructure for receiving additional electricity from the central grids," said a senior official of the Power Development Department.
"Additional allocation of power will overcome power crisis only when required infrastructure is in place. How will we handle additional power when there is no infrastructure available? There will be improvement in power supply only when new girds are commissioned," the official said.
The official said that there is an immense load on Pampore and Zainakote power grid stations which caters to Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Pulwama districts. "Ganderbal gets electricity from Zainakote grid station which always remains overloaded," the official said.
At the same time, PDD is yet to restore electricity in various parts of Kashmir since November 7.
"Towers have collapsed at various places resulting electricity could not be restored in Magam, Beerwah, Arizal and Khaag areas," the official added. |
