The administration has announced a new power curtailment schedule for the upcoming winter season in the Kashmir Valley. In metered areas, there will be a daily power curtailment of 4.5 hours, with this curtailment being distributed across three shifts—morning, afternoon, and evening. On the other hand, non-metered areas will experience a more extended power curtailment of 8 hours on a regular basis.
As winter descends upon Kashmir Valley, its residents brace themselves for the daunting challenges brought on by declining temperatures and an unreliable power supply. The introduction of a new power schedule has raised concerns, more so, with the Valley’s temperature sharply declining over the past week, rendering electricity not just a source of warmth and light, but a lifeline during the dark, cold nights.
However, the government appears to treat these winter power curtailments as an accepted fact of life in the region. Such acceptance might be warranted if not for the precedent set by the current government, which managed to provide a relatively better supply of electricity last winter. The people of the Valley have legitimate expectations that the government will ensure a reasonable supply of electricity, making it easier to endure the winter.
Metered areas, where residents pay for the electricity they consume, deserve an uninterrupted power supply. In the past, these areas received round-the-clock power, but this is no longer the case. While it’s not an endorsement of past administrations, it’s crucial to ask why the current government has failed to improve upon its own performance from the past three winters.
Yet, the power debate in the Valley transcends the availability of electricity during winter. It highlights the perpetual failure of successive governments to meet domestic power demand from the region’s abundant water resources. The fundamental issue is clear: Kashmir exports electricity but imports it at a considerable cost for its own consumption. This situation necessitates a comprehensive strategy and long-term planning to ensure a resilient power supply for the winter months, and beyond.
The issue is simple and it is this: we are a region that exports electricity but purchases power at a hefty cost for its own consumption. This calls for the government to strategize and act to ensure that if not in the near to medium future but at least in the long term, we have adequate electricity for winter. The challenges facing Kashmir, from nature’s unpredictability to infrastructure deficiencies, are not insurmountable. With concerted efforts from the government, the region can overcome these challenges.
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