WE THE PEOPLE
Unscheduled Nocturnal Power-cuts in Metered- Localities Put Big Put Question Mark against PDD!
Hence people urge Commissioner PDD to Get Uninterrupted Electricity Ensured to restore Credibility
By: MNS/Shirjeel/ Zedan Khan
Srinagar: With the installation of Electronic Meters, the Power Development Department had assured Consumers that there would be no Power-cuts and uninterrupted electricity would be supplied to them, but now the Officials of the said Department have started snapping power supply during night hours and that too without any proper announcement.
It is also established that Power Distribution System is still in the stage of infancy as a gust of wind is enough to disrupt power supply for hours together. It seems that the PDD is likely to take many years to reach the stage of perfection. No Project can benefit the beneficiaries until and unless it has bearing on sound design, otherwise, it can prove unproductive. This is what emanates from the functional mechanism of the J&K Power Development Department, where ‘Distribution System’ is pregnant with irritants and so puts people to lot of hardships. Their large populated segments are plunged into deep shadows of darkness whenever weather turns hostile. A gust of wind is enough to snap power and water supplies instantaneously as power conductors are exposed to weather vagaries and not well protected. Had there been underground power cables, no wind and no shower could disrupt flow of electricity to households. The PDD officials should re-plan the Distribution System so that it remains stable and faultless.
It is pertinent to mention that ‘Accelerated Power Development Programme’ was launched in the year 2000 and funded and financed by Government of India, but even then Kashmir Valley still presents a primitive canvas dotted with sore spots. The areas, which are fed water supply under lift schemes also, get affected by denying drinking water to them. It is a fact that winds of higher velocities hit metropolitan cities of India, but are not affected at all. People living in such cities do not experience any disruption either in power or water supply. Then why Kashmir Valley even with huge investments in power sector faces ugly situations? This is mainly due to power conductors and water mains being exposed and not laid underground. Laying power conductors and water mains underground in watertight boxes is need of the hour as the Valley is prone to unfavorable weather storms and floods.
It was to improve efficiency and commercial viability in J&K Power Sector that the Government of India identified distribution reforms as the key area and launched `Accelerated Power Development Programme’ during 2000-01. The scheme was to finance the projects relating to renovation and modernization, life extension and upgradation of old power plants. The upgradation of sub-transmission and distribution network, including energy accounting and installation of meters, both in domestic and commercial establishments were in the said programme. The project costing Rs.6.99 crore was framed by the PDD for effective metering of all feeders and HT lines. The MoU was signed in April 2002 where under it was agreed to complete the metering of all feeders by December 2002, undertake energy audit at all levels and bring down losses to 25 per cent by December 2006. The scheme was renamed as `Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme’ in 2003 and it was to focus on upgradation of sub-transmission and distribution in densely electrified segments of urban and industrial areas and bring improvement in commercial viability of the State Electricity Boards. To cover 12 districts of the State, 6 projects estimated to cost Rs.1100 crore were framed by the State Government and approved by Government of India during 2002-06. But it is unfortunate that the Distribution System has not improved and people continue to suffer at times beyond description.
Hence people urge Power Commissioner to ask the Engineers to go for underground power conductors to end miseries of people. This can end frequent interruptions in power and water supplies. The PDD must implement the guidelines laid down in the Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme wherein main thrust has been laid on upgradation and improvement in distribution network including energy accounting and metering in densely electrified zones.
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