Jammu- The Union Territory Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday directed Power Development Department (PDD) to strictly comply with curtailment plans, provide uninterrupted and quality power in 100% smart metered feeders and timely replace damaged transformers to avoid any inconvenience to the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
These directions were passed by LG while chairing a review meeting on the overall power supply situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Principal Secretary PDD H. Rajesh Prasad, Principal Secretary Finance Department Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary to LG Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Detailed discussions took place on various aspects to meet the high electricity demand in both Kashmir and Jammu Division, an official spokesperson said Thursday.
During the meeting, he said, Sinha asked the Principal Secretary, Power Development Department, H. Rajesh Prasad for strict compliance of curtailment plans, uninterrupted and quality power in 100% smart metered feeders and timely replacement of damaged transformers to avoid any inconvenience to the people.
The LG, he said, also stated the team on the ground must closely monitor the situation and take proactive actions to meet the peak electricity demand. Sinha also took appraisal of the status of the installation of smart meters, manpower and power infrastructure.
Congress, PDP Hit Streets
Meanwhile unprecedented power cuts in the Kashmir Valley on Thursday triggered protests in Srinagar, with political parties joining the chorus of discontent on Thursday.
For the past few weeks, residents have been braving the harsh winter without adequate electricity, leading to widespread frustration and anger.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) held separate protests against the prevailing power conditions in the valley.
Both parties demanded an immediate resolution to the power crisis, which has caused significant disruption to daily life.
PDP as well as JKPCC staged a protest at their respective party headquarters.
Protesters from both parties chanted slogans against the government, accusing it of failing to provide adequate electricity to the people of Kashmir.
“The power cuts have been attributed to a combination of factors, including increased demand during the winter months. There are a lot of patients in hospitals and homes, who rely on ventilators and need a continuous power supply. If the power supply issue is not fixed, we will hit the streets,” said Imtiyaz Khan, District Srinagar President of JKPCC.
“There has always been a high demand for power supply in Kashmir, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir are struggling with the power crisis at present. The government should immediately address this issue and provide an adequate power supply to all,” said Rouf Bhat, Additional Spokesperson of PDP.
Pertinently, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said on Wednesday that the power situation in the Valley is expected to improve within a week. He acknowledged that the power schedule announced earlier is not being adhered to due to the abrupt increase in demand caused by the early onset of winter in Kashmir.
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