Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 2: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, K.K Sharma today chaired a meeting to take stock of power scenario in Kashmir and review measures taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers.
Managing Director, Kashmir Power Development Corporation (KPDC), Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Chief Engineer, Power Development Department (PDD) (Transmission), Aijaz Ahmad Dar, SEs, among other senior officers of the department attended the meeting.
The Advisor urged PDD officials to go for re-structuring of the department and its allied wings for gaining greater results in power distribution.
He sought feedback from the officers regarding several ongoing developmental projects-stressing that the works under centrally sponsored schemes be completed at an earliest. He asked the officers to identify and remove the bottlenecks in the works and complete the projects on priority.
The officials informed the meeting that on an average, the department has been supplying a peak load of 1200 MW and in winters the department faces the challenge of supplying increased load.
The Advisor asked the officials to launch a drive to ensure 100 percent revenue collection from the consumers and simultaneously launch an information campaign to educate them about the power pilferage and rights and duties of the consumers. He also directed the PDD officials to publicise power curtailment schedule regularly in print and electronic media.
Managing Director, KPDC informed the meeting that department was taking all possible measures to maintain stable power supply during winters. He said that that under construction Zainakoot-Alestang Transmission line-which suffered massive damages to 10 vital towers during heavy snowfall, will also provide relief to the people once it is completed. He said that comprehensive contingency plans have been drawn to work on war footing basis.
The meeting was informed that with the commissioning of 220 KV ring line connecting Zainakote grid and Aulesteng Grid at 220 KV level, the City grids of Waganpora, Habbak, Cheshmashahi and Pampore Grids will be able to feed additional power to the tune of 200 MWs to Srinagar and other adjoining areas, thereby reducing the infrastructure constraints and minimising the curtailment hours in the City.
The meeting was informed that in order to avoid unscheduled cuts due to constrictions of existing infrastructure at 33 KV level and below, up-gradation of critically overloaded 33 kV feeders and Receiving Stations is being carried out under various centrally sponsored schemes like PMRP/ DDUGJY /IPDS.