Srinagar Nov 11 : Authorities have taken several steps to stop power pilferage and to reduce transmission and distribution losses in Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K has around 50 percent Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses which are highest in India. The increase in T&D losses and revenue generation gap, according to officials, was because of power pilferage. The centre has slammed the J & K government several times in the past for its “failure” in reducing the T&D losses.
A senior official of Kashmir Power Development Corporation (KPDC) said they have taken several measures to stop the misuse of electricity in the Valley.
“We have formed various teams who are conducting inspections to stop power pilferage. All those who resort to power pilferage will be heavily fined besides that FIRs will also be lodged where power theft grossly takes place,” the official said.
“We will seek police assistance if there is some resistance from the public in creating hurdles in the works of inspection teams,” the official said.
The power theft increases during winters even though fines had been imposed against such people in the past. “So it has been decided to file cases against those who often resort to power thefts,” the official said.
The administration has already appealed to the general masses to avoid power theft through illegal connections which KPDC said results in “overloading” of the system and hampers smooth supply of electricity.
Similarly, the authorities have expedited the process of replacing Low Tension (LT) and High Tension (HT) wires with insulated underground cable wires in a bid to curb growing incidents of power thefts in Kashmir.
The official said the main reasons for high T&D losses was absence of up-gradation of old lines, pilferage and tampering of meters.
At the same time, Kashmir has been facing power cuts for the last many days due to an increase in power demand.
Officials said there would be further reduction in power supply from next month as a new power curtailment schedule will be framed for the winters. (KINS)
