Though the winter season is over in Kashmir valley, but there is no change in power schedule from the Power department till now.
Residents from most of the city areas complained of frequent, unscheduled power cuts especially in the evenings. “The Power Development Department (PDD) has failed in timely revision of the curtailment program. Unscheduled and frequent power cuts still persist despite passing of winter months,” said the citizens here.
Local residents of M.I G, colony Bemina told this KNS correspondent that their area is supplied power as per the winter schedule which was announced and implemented in November last year.
The unduly long power cuts are also affecting tourism industry at a time when the government is desperately trying to woo tourists to Kashmir. As of now, there are six-hour power curtailment in metered areas of Srinagar and Budgam districts. The areas were divided into three groups, A1, A2, and A3.
These areas face two-hour power cuts in the morning, then two hours power curtailment in the afternoon, and another two hours in the evening.
However, the non-metered areas face nine-hour power cuts.
Given the persistent curtailment, the people find their lives miserable. “We are even not able to watch news on TV as the power remains off for most part of the day, while our children are unable to concentrate on studies properly in the evening hours,” said Shabir Ahmad of Batmaloo.
The business activities have also been affected due to these power curtailments. “The scene in the metered areas, which mostly include the posh civil lines in the city, and towns elsewhere, is equally messy. Basically there’s no power curtailment schedule, as we witness some three to five hours of power cuts a day,” said Ruksan Aziz a housewife from Qamarwari.
The people here said that it is high time for personal intervention of Governor Satya Paul Malik. “He must personally look into the matter to get rid of the power woes, otherwise it will affect entire business season in the valley,” the local businessmen cautioned here.
Interestingly, the power curtailment awaits revision when the demand for power supply has already gone down. “After the chilly spell of winter when we use more of heating gadgets, the demand for power starts going down from spring itself whereas during summers its minimal,” explained a retired PDD official asking not be named.
When contacted the Chief Engineer, PDD, said the problem was being looked into. “I have convened a meeting to get feedback from transmission people, after which future course of action can be decided,” CE told Kashmir News Service (KNS) over phone.
The CE further said that there would be an improvement in the power supply in coming days. “There is already some reduction we have made in the winter schedule power cuts and we will further reduce power cuts and their duration,” the CE claimed. (KNS)
