Assures 100% Electricity Supply From Today
Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Monday issued a veiled warning to the striking Power Development Department (PDD) employees, while assuring 100 percent restoration of electricity supply in the Union Territory by Tuesday.
“If some people think that the system will work as per their whims and fancies, it cannot be allowed. The system will work for 1.25 crore citizens without any discrimination. Every step of the UT administration is meant for the betterment of 1.25 crore citizens of Jammu and Kashmir,” Sinha said, as per an official spokesperson.
The LG, he said, expressed solidarity with the people and said that he understood the pain caused by the disruption in electricity supply due to strike by the power department employees.
“The well-being of each and every citizen is our top priority. Many Generations of J&K have spent their life dreaming about getting an uninterrupted 24 hours supply of electricity and we have taken the bold initiative of reforms in the power sector to realise that dream,” the LG said.
“Unfortunately, the people who were at the helm of affairs for many decades did nothing; they didn’t want the system to get better to bring qualitative change in people’s lives,” he added.
The LG, as per the official spokesperson also defended the administration’s decision to call in the army’s engineering corps for the restoration of electricity supply. He also said that talks have been held with those who were on strike and as on date no dues/salary are pending on part of the government.
“I do not want to name them, but some people have criticized that the army has been called to restore electricity. Personnel from REC, NTPC NHPC, and officers from the army engineering corps have also come. This only shows our commitment that we restored 60% electricity yesterday and by tomorrow we will achieve 100% restoration,” Sinha said, adding “There can be no compromise on the issue of ensuring access to the basic amenities to our people.
According to the official spokesperson, the LG also highlighted the tremendous work done across the Power sector in the whole country where even areas are now getting electricity for 20-22 hours.
“Unfortunately, J&K is still deprived of that. We have made efforts in that direction. Most of you know our cumulative generation capacity is around 3500MW even though the UT has the potential to generate 20000 MW. In the last 6-8 months, the MoUs we have signed with NHPC, under the guidance of Prime Minister, will pave way for generating 3500MW additional power in the next 4-5 years,” the LG said.
He further said that there was no dearth of electricity in the country but the UT’s transmission and distribution systems have a limited capacity of carrying electricity from outside.
“We have worked in that direction and have been able to achieve 40% of that specific capacity building plan. And I want to assure you that the Prime Minister has always extended his support to us and in the last 14 months, we have completed 236 projects to improve transmission and distribution infrastructure and the rest will also be completed, well within timelines,” Sinha said.
He said it pains him that despite massive progress in other parts of the country, people of J&K were deprived of minimum requirements to live a civilised life.
“If some people think that the system will work as per their whims and fancies, it cannot be allowed. The system will work for 1.25 crore citizens without any discrimination. Every step of the UT administration is meant for the betterment of 1.25 crore citizens of Jammu and Kashmir,” the LG said, in an apparent warning to the striking PDD employees.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole on Monday visited several grid stations in Anantnag, an official spokesperson said.
Inspecting the grid station at Sarnal, he said, the Div Com was apprised that the station is functioning normally and the service delivery is being carried out as per schedule.
He said that the Div Com interacted with the on duty staff and asked them to be punctual in carrying out their duties. Pole, he said, also visited the grid station at Nai Basti Khanabal and inspected the functioning of the grid station.
“Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com said that regular power supply is essential during harsh winters and the concerned officials should ensure that curtailment schedule is adhered to,” the official spokesperson said.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
