Arjumand Wani
PULWAMA, Oct 19: Medium and small-scale industries located at Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora in Pulwama district are facing severe challenges due to frequent power cuts in recent days. The ongoing power disruptions have resulted in significant financial losses and operational hardships for businesses in the area.
The manager of Uqab Industries, a manufacturer of corrugated cardboard boxes, highlighted the adverse impact of power cuts on their production process.
He explained that one of their critical machines relies on a consistent temperature in its heaters and boilers. When the power supply is interrupted, the machine quickly cools down, requiring approximately an hour to reheat. During this downtime, workers are left idle, leading to decreased productivity.
Similarly, an operational manager at a local cold storage facility, who wished to remain anonymous, shed light on the challenges of operating a medium-scale industry without a reliable electricity supply.
He emphasized that, during power outages, the industry has to consume a substantial amount of diesel fuel, approximately 77 liters per hour, resulting in significant financial burdens. Closing the facility is not a viable option, as it would lead to substantial losses, particularly in the storage of perishable fruits.
Mr. Wajid Magray, a local restaurant owner, expressed his concern, noting that this is the second time such a crisis has unfolded in the area. While previous power issues were promptly resolved, this time, businesses have been grappling with frequent power cuts for three days, adversely affecting their operations.
In response to these challenges, Mr. Nazir Ahmad Malik, the SE of KPDCL in Pulwama, denied any knowledge of the situation, stating that there have been no reports of power station trips in the area. However, he did acknowledge a similar occurrence in the past and assured swift action if the issue is reported to his office.
