People aghast, seek uninterrupted supply during Ramadan
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 16: Kashmir is witnessing undue and unscheduled power cuts, particularly during Sehri and Iftaar due to which people are facing immense hardships while as the Power Development Department (PDD) said that the issue is with the Northern Grid which is facing the availability issues amid rising demand in North India.
For the last few days, people across several areas in Kashmir are complaining of frequent power cuts especially during Sehri and Iftar while they allege that the concerned authorities were not taking any note of the problems faced by them.
“Initially, there was no problem and the power supply was being supplied uninterrupted. However, for the last few days, the power supply has deteriorated all of sudden due to unknown reason,” Nazir Ahmad, a local said while stating that people are facing immense issues.
Another local from Srinagar said that apart from Sehri and Iftaar, they are subjected to face undue power cuts even during the day, while he added that the authorities need to ensure uninterrupted power supply at least in Ramadan.
However, on the other side, the officials of the PDD said the power cuts have got nothing to do with Ramadan. Rather, they said, Iftaar and Sehri mark the peak of the load, prompting the department to carry out necessary power cuts to maintain balance.
Chief Engineer PDD Kashmir, Javid Yousuf told Excelsior that as the March was recorded to be the hottest in 122 years, there has been a deficit recorded in rainfall even as the power demand has increased in other Northern States.
“While that is the situation, the power generation has decreased due to low rain; as of now we have got availability issue, rest we do not have any local issue as such,” he said.
He added that they have to comply with the directives from the National Load Despatch Center so that Grid remains safe otherwise, he said, if the changes are not made, there could be a total blackout.
“To maintain the system stability in the Northern Grid we have to maintain a frequency in a certain band. If there is a dip, then the Northern Grid issues an advisory to States to decrease the load; as there is a rising demand with a dip in power generation, we are doing our bit to maintain the balance as directed and that’s what we are doing and there are power cuts,” he said.
The officials said that Sehri and Iftaar mark the peaking of the load and prompt the PDD to resort to the power cuts to maintain balance.
“In just half an hour the heaters are turned on and the power demand which remains 1000 MW, jumps to 1700 MW within 30 minutes, particularly at Sehri and Iftaar; the overall problem lies with the Northern Grid and we are left with no option but to resort to curtailments,” the officials said.
The officials said that they are doing their best to lessen the hassles and hardships of people particularly during the holy month of Ramadan even as they appealed to the people to ensure judicious use of the electricity.
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