CM directs adherence to curtailment schedules

Srinagar, Dec 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday demanded adherence to power curtailment schedules.

Chairing a high-level meeting to review the power scenario in Kashmir amid the ongoing severe cold wave in Kashmir, which has disrupted power and water supply, CM Omar, who has stationed himself in the Valley to personally oversee crisis management during this challenging time, emphasised the need for effective measures to address power shortages and ensure adequate essential services for residents.

During the meeting, he discussed a comprehensive strategy to manage peak electricity demand and directed officials to maintain efficiency in ensuring a reliable power supply during the harsh winter season.

The CM instructed the Power Development Department (PDD) to strictly comply with the scheduled curtailment programme and ensure proper publicity of planned power outages to keep consumers informed in advance.

He was briefed on the current power situation in Kashmir, including the Load Curtailment Plan (LCP) and the demand-versus-consumption statistics.

During the meeting, it was highlighted that despite a 7 to 8 percent increase in electricity supply compared to the previous year, the extreme cold had caused a significant rise in the load profile, exceeding available resources.

The meeting was informed that this situation is further aggravated by record-low power generation due to minimal water discharge in hydroelectric power plants, the meeting was informed.

The officials also apprised the CM of the department’s interventions to reduce the demand-supply gap.

It was reported that substantial capacity additions had been made since last winter to meet increased demand.

The CM directed officials to rationalise the load curtailment programme based on the loss profile of feeders and explore options to enhance the allocation of power.

He also stressed the importance of equity in providing electricity to all while incentivising law-abiding consumers but ensuring adequate power supply, especially during this period of severe cold, is made available to the general public.

Chief Secretary Atal Duloo attended the meeting virtually.

The meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary PDD Rajesh H Prasad, Managing Director JKPTCL, Managing Director KPDCL and Chief Engineers of various wings of the PDD.

The CM emphasised the urgent need for the smart metering of Distribution Transformers (DTs) and feeders to improve the monitoring and efficiency of the power distribution system.

Later, he inspected the Sub Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) at Bemina to review the load monitoring system.

CM Omar was provided with division and district-wise details of power load and consumption and directed officials to allocate electricity with maximum efficiency to minimise disruptions.

Reaffirming his commitment to addressing the hardships caused by the severe winter conditions, he urged the PDD authorities to prioritise uninterrupted power supply for essential services and to remain proactive in managing the challenges posed by the ongoing cold wave.