Power misuse affects supply in winters: KPDCL CE

Denying the claims that PDD has resorted to unscheduled power cuts during winters, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Chief Engineer Ajaz Ahmad Dar has said that the department is supplying adequate power supply to its consumers but due to usage of electric gadgets, the supply gets affected automatically.

Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), he said at the moment the KPDCL is supplying 1500 Megawatts in peak hours of morning and evening shifts. “No doubt the demand is more than what we are supplying but one thing should be noted that consumers across Kashmir are using numerous electric gadgets during winters which automatically affects the supply”, he said.

Terming consumers responsible for pesky power cuts, Dar said that the frequent use of electric gadgets by consumers led to illegal usage of power supply. “We have been requesting consumers through different mediums to avoid unnecessary usage of electricity and use it wisely so that all pockets of the valley benefit from the supply”, he said.

He said that the department is facing a shortage of 700 Megawatt to meet the demand of consumers during winters. “Of 2200 MW demand we are only providing 1500 MW. We are creating mass awareness about better usage of electricity during winter”, he added.

About the notifying areas with respect to metered and non-metered zones, he said only 40 percent areas come under metered zones where consumers are using electricity judiciously.

He said that to achieve 100 percent installation of meters, a special drive will be taken up under a centrally sponsored scheme which will decrease the demand from 2200MW to 1700MW. Moreover it will help us to generate revenue across the valley equally”, Dar said.

About curtailment, Dar said that in Srinagar city we have three slots where we have 1.5 hour curtailment in each slot except few areas and sometimes due to overloading the curtailment timing exceeds.

Regarding the re-installation of damaged transformers Dar said that such transformers are being returned and restored within 24 hours in urban areas while rural areas get it takes less than 48 hours.

He said the PDD has 500 buffer stock transformers with 200 transformers installed at several places.

About power misuse and theft, Dar said that the department has a special squad who conduct raids to stop misuse of electricity, theft, surveillance over unregistered users etc.

“We have 18 divisions for which we have constituted 25 special squads who are regularly inspecting the misuse of electricity”, he said.

About pending wages and job security of casual laborers of the department who suffered injuries or maimed in the line of duty, the officer said that the department will soon come up with an insurance policy.

“The proposal has already been sent to the Government. The Department has already drafted Standard Operating Procedures (SPOs) in case any untoward happen to our casual laborers so that they will be covered up under insurance scheme”, he said.

He thanked Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for their wide support in augmenting the facilities in the department.