Power crisis: People contest PDD claims in DC’s presence

Srinagar

Power Development Department (PDD) authorities on Tuesday informed District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir that uninterrupted power supply for 13 and 8 hours in metered and unmetered areas respectively is being provided by the department in north Kashmir district. However, the locals including traders contested the claims.

An official said that District Development Commissioner Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir, convened a meeting of PDD authorities to review the overall power scenario and the status of ongoing development works carried out by the department under different schemes in the district.

On the occasion, the DDC inquired about the availability, demand and supply position of power supply in the district. It was informed that uninterrupted power supply for 13 and 8 hours in metered and unmetered areas respectively is being provided by the department.

The DDC impressed upon the authorities to provide uninterrupted power supply to the people during scheduled hours.

He also stressed upon arranging buffer stock of transformers and upgradation of receiving stations within a stipulated time, the official added.

Showkat Massodi, Convener local civil society group said that PDD resorts to uninterrupted power cuts and never sticks to the curtailment schedule.

“After every half an hour, the supply electricity for 5 to 10 minutes. The electricity comes for just namesake,” he said.

The shopkeepers of Kupwara also contested the PDD claims. “They say electricity is provided uninterrupted. We request worthy Deputy Commissioner to visit the market and check the claim made by the PDD,” Gulzar Ahmad, a shopkeeper said.

Abdul Rashid, who is running a DTP shop in Kupwara said that uninterrupted power supply curtailment schedule holds good on paper only. “After every 20 minutes or half an hour, power goes off which creates hurdles in our day to day work.”

Similarly, consumers said that curtailment schedule is never adhered to by the officials. “One thing is true, there are unscheduled power cuts and not schedule cuts,” said Mohammad Jamal Bhat, a resident of Battergam Kupwara.

“The concern shown by the Deputy Commissioner is highly appreciable. Now he shall ensure that PDD sticks to the announced curtailment schedule,” he added. (GNS)

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