Winter has just started and the power supply deteriorates causing enormous hardships to the people of the valley.
Zarka Shafi a senior correspondent conducted an interview with the Managing Director (KPDCL) Muhammad Yasin Chaudhry. Apart from some reasons of acute power shortage many more were divulged like the power meters installation and other electricity issues.
ZS: Why is it that fake promises are being made by the PDD department?
MD: Over the past few years, we have been able to gradually improve the power supply from 1200 MWs; we were able to supply 1750 MWs last year. Definitely, this has resulted in far better power situation during the winters and has reduced the power curtailment, particularly, if we see in Pulwama belt, there has been a massive improvement in power situation because of the creation of new grid station in south Kashmir. As soon as winters arrive the weather conditions changes. Last year during high peak winters, we met the demands of providing about 1800 Megawatts of power supply. This keeps increasing year by year.
This year is definitely better than the last year. Hopefully, 1900 mega-watt is expected this year. Every year we have taken different initiatives to increase the power supply in the valley New power receiving stations are constructed, reconductoring takes place and load control measures are also implemented. With the rise in coal prices, the thermal power stations are giving low power supply and the availability in the valley is around 13- 50 megawatts. Our duty is to distribute the power supply, transmission corporation and PCL is giving less supply. Reconductoring is taking place in Wagoora- Zainakote line 132 KV Mir Bazar Vampo line through the transmission corporation.
ZS: Why there are power outages from morning to evening in City?
MD: We have to go for shut off in 6 districts for a few hours, in district Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, and Bandipora but in Srinagar, the maximum curtailment takes place for two to three hours. Denying that he said that in district Srinagar power cuts remain only for two to three hours whereas in other districts are concerned Pulwama, Shopian, Ganderbal, Bandipora are concerned there are some curtailment issues
ZS: In summer season electricity is better but when winters approach people have to face hardships. Every year the winter schedule is mentioned, what is it for the current year?
MD: We haven’t yet issued the curtailment schedule. It is to be issued in mid-November hopefully. There are problems because of distress curtailment issues that’s why we have issued a press release. We request the public to cooperate with us for few days till reconductring is finished and the distress curtailment issues is solved. The power which we are purchasing is not free, we are paying for every unit of electricity we are consumed and only 45 percent is returned back. The department is in a Financial deficit position. The amount of power we are purchasing, we are not able to gather the bills the public is submitting. We have waived the electricity bill for some people who can’t afford it. People are going for illegal connections which is making it difficult for us.
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