Ahead of winter, pesky power cuts irk consumers in Kashmir

Ahead of winter, pesky power cuts irk consumers in Kashmir

Why long cuts despite smart meter installation, ask people; Say Crores spent on augmentation of electricity needs to be utilized for providing round-the-clock electricity; Issues will be resolved within a few days: CE KPDCL

Owais Gul

Srinagar, Sep 30 (KNO): Despite the augmentation of power infrastructure and the installation of much-hyped smart meters, the electricity woes continue to torment the valley residents ahead of the winter as since past one week, consumers are facing pesky power cuts across the Valley.

The situation is equivalent in towns, cities and villages as the consumers have accused the concerned Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) of supplying inadequate electricity to them.

“Despite the installation of smart meters, which were aimed to ensure better power supply, we are getting nearly 4-5 hours of electricity supply on a regular basis, which has added to the misery of consumers here,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a local from the Natipora area.

“Crores of rupees have been spent on the power infrastructure augmentations in the last couple of years, which were giving a hope of round-the-clock electricity to the people, but all in vein as seemingly the winter power schedule has been started in the valley during the Autumn season, thus pushing the people to the wall,” the residents said.

Such unscheduled power cuts are being witnessed everywhere nowadays as the complaints are being received from several other areas also.

The consumers said that the electricity is being snatched for hours together and is being supplied for only a few hours in a day.

“The electricity supply was snatched multiple times today, which began from 6am to 8:30 am in the morning, 1 am to 2:30 pm in the afternoon and then 6pm to 8:30 pm in the evening,” one of the residents from Pampore said.

The frequent electricity cuts have irked the people, who demand authorities to take immediate steps to ensure adequate power supply to them.

Pertinently, Kashmir’s power generation has got badly affected as according to the KPDCL Chief Engineer, Javed Yousuf Dar, the reduction in water level in river Jhelum, Chenab has lessened the power generation at the power houses of Kashmir.

“We are presently looking for an option to get the additional electricity to ensure adequate power supply to the people. We are on it and hopefully, the issue will be resolved in next few days,” Chief Engineer, KPDCL had said—(KNO)