Adequate power supply gets affected with the usage of “limitless” electric gadgets in winters: KPDCL Chief Engineer Ajaz Dar

Appeals people to use power “judicially”, stay away from theft, hooking

Appeals people to use power “judicially”, stay away from theft, hooking

 

Sajad Lone/Shafat Malik

Srinagar, Dec 29 (KNS): Denying the claims that PDD has resorted to “illimitable” power cuts during winters, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) Chief Engineer Ajaz ahmad Dar Tuesday 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 KNS, he said at this 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 unnumbered 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 “illegitimate” usage of power supply. “We have been requesting consumers through different medium to avoid unnecessary usage of electricity and use it wisely so that all pockets of the valley got benefited from the supply”, he said.
He said that the department is running 700 Megawatt down to meet the actual demand of consumers during winters. “There needs 2200 Megawatts in valley but we are only providing 1500 Megawatts. We are carrying awareness among masses about better usage of electricity during cold season”, he added.
In response to a query, he said that PDD has designed its system as the agreement load. “The extra consumption during winters is happening only due to excess usage of electric gadgets”, he said.
About the bifurcation of areas, he said we have only 40 percent areas which have come under metered zones where consumers are using electricity “judicially” and added “In near future the departed will carry out a drive to incorporate each and every part of city and village under metered zone. The drive will be taken up under centrally sponsored scheme which will decrease the demand from 2200MW to 1700MW then. 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 added sometimes due to overloading the curtailment timing exceeds.
When asked about the assertions of Government about return of damaged transforms to respective areas within hours, Dar said that there might be some cases where a damaged transformer took days to get restored but the fact is such transformers are being returned and restored within 24 hours in urban areas while rural areas get it back within 48 hours. He said the PDD has 500 new transformers in stock right now while 200 transformers have already been distributed to deserving areas.
About misuse and theft, Dar said that the department has a special squad who are conducted special drives 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 told KNS, adding that due to dearth of manpower, department can’t control each and every misuse attempt. He also added that such drives will remain continue in future as well.
When asked about snapping of connections amidst novel Corona virus when business activities were at pause across valley, the KPDCL Chief Engineer said that the department snapped the supply to only those who proven defaulters. He added that those who can’t pay electric dues in a once, can pay it in installments.
About pending wages and job security of casual laborers of the department who suffered injuries or got disable 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 Government. 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. Also the officer thanked employees of the department for their day and night duties to ensure electricity to the consumers. He appealed consumers for “judicial” use of electricity and urged them to remain away from illegal means like hooking, power theft etc (KNS) 

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