‘Rs 6000 Cr to be spent for improvement of power scenario’

Srinagar: With the power scenario worsening ahead of the onset winter, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said, the scheduled power cuts will continue to remain in the valley as the gap between demand and supply has increased from last couple of weeks.

He also said that the government is spending 6000 crore for the improvement of power scenario in the state.

Talking to KNS over phone from Jammu, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who is also power minister of the state said, “Compared to summers the power consumption has raised in the valley. I had a meeting with the DCP he said that the gap between demand and supply compels Power Development Department (PDD) to go for curtailments and unscheduled cuts. I can say that during the winter the scheduled power cuts can continue to remain in the valley,” he said.

Interestingly the statement comes days after the Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmmad Syeed had directed the PDP to ensure better supply of power to the valley.

The Deputy Chief Minister claimed that if the people consume power judiciously then the power department can provide the better supply to the people of the valley. “Many people have kept transformers in their houses which create extra load to the main transformers and by the reason it  gets damaged. The unscheduled power cuts are because of the load shedding,” the Deputy CM maintained.

He said that he has called a meeting with all the officials of the power department to review overall power scenario of the state. “I have called the meeting with the DCP and both the Chief engineers, other officials to discuss the overall power situation of the state and the Kashmir valley,”

He further said that the power department has received 6000 crore Rupees which will be utilized under RAP, DRP for the improvement of the power supply. “6000 crore Ruppes will be utilized in metering and other things for the improvement of the power, “Singh said however added that the department needs time for it.

Admitting that there is enough curtailment in the non-metered areas of the valley, the Deputy CM said that there is problem with the sources supplying energy to the State due to the limited infrastructure. “The reasons which are compelling us to go for long curtailments in the non metered areas are because we could not import power as per our requirement. There is problem with the sources supplying energy to the State because of the limited infrastructure, “he said but added that government is working on it. (KNS)