Directs strict compliance with scheduled curtailment program, ensuring its wide publicity
SRINAGAR, DECEMBER 23: Amid the ongoing severe cold wave in the Kashmir Valley, which has disrupted power and water supply, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a high-level meeting to review the power scenario in Kashmir valley.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has stationed himself in the valley to personally oversee crisis management during this challenging time, emphasized the need for effective measures to address power shortages and ensure adequate essential services for residents.
During the meeting, Chief Minister discussed a comprehensive strategy to manage peak electricity demand and directed officials to maintain efficiency in ensuring a reliable power supply during the harsh winter season.
He instructed the Power Development Department (PDD) to strictly comply with the scheduled curtailment program and ensure proper publicity of planned power outages to keep consumers informed in advance.
The Chief Minister was briefed on the current power situation in the valley, including the Load Curtailment Plan (LCP) and the demand-versus-consumption statistics.
It was highlighted that despite a 7-8% increase in electricity supply compared to the previous year, the extreme cold has caused a significant rise in the load profile, exceeding available resources. This situation is further aggravated by record-low power generation due to minimal water discharge in hydroelectric power plants, the meeting was informed.
Officials also apprised the Chief Minister of the department’s interventions to reduce the demand-supply gap.
It was reported that substantial capacity additions have been made since the last winter to meet increased demand.
The Chief Minister directed officials to rationalize the load curtailment program based on the loss profile of feeders and explore options to enhance the allocation of power.
He also stressed the importance of equity in providing electricity to all while incentivizing law abiding consumers but ensuring adequate power supply, especially during this period of severe cold, is made available to the general public.
Chief Secretary Atal Duloo attended the meeting virtually, the meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary PDD Rajesh H Prasad, Managing Director JKPTCL, Managing Director KPDCL and Chief Engineers of various wings of the Power Development Department. The Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need for the smart metering of Distribution Transformers (DTs) and feeders to improve the monitoring and efficiency of the power distribution system.
Later, the Chief Minister inspected the Sub Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) at Bemina to review the load monitoring system.
He was provided with division- and district-wise details of power load and consumption and he directed officials to allocate electricity with maximum efficiency o minimize disruptions. Reaffirming his commitment to addressing the hardships caused by the severe winter conditions, the Chief Minister urged PDD authorities to prioritize uninterrupted power supply for essential services and to remain proactive in managing the challenges posed by the ongoing cold wave.
No: PR/DI/24/1821/
Government of Jammu and Kashmir
Department of Information
Monday, December 23, 2024
Email: dirinf17jk@gmail.com
Rana reviews winter preparedness of Jal Shakti Department
Asks for prompt response on public grievances, provisioning of additional tankers for each district
JAMMU, DECEMBER 23: Amid the water crisis due to freezing temperatures in the valley, Minister for Jal Shakti Department, Javed Ahmed Rana, today convened a detailed meeting of the Department to ensure that people are provided adequate drinking water without facing any difficulties.
Bedsides the MLAs from Anantnag (West), Devsar, Kokernag and Sopore constituencies the meeting was attended by ACS, Jal Shakti Department, MD, JJM, Chief Engineers and other Engineers of the Department.
The Minister, exhorted upon the Department to evolve a robust mechanism ensuring swift response to public grievances so that these ate addressed within the shortest possible time. He also asked for doubling the number of water tankers for providing drinking water to areas facing deficit in supply. He asked them to furnish the district wise requirements so that same is authorised after ascertaining their genuineness.
On the occasion, the Minister took stock of issues raised by the MLAs concerning welfare and development of their respective areas. They brought up the concerns related to augmentation of certain water supply schemes besides improvement in daily water supply to the people of these areas. The legislators also raised the matters related to completion of some water supply schemes under JJM besides inclusion of works under AMRUT 2.0 for their areas.
The Minister directed the concerned officers for taking necessary steps to ensure early resolution of the same.
ACS, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, presented an overview of the current water supply scenario prevalent all over the valley. He also enumerated different steps being taken by the department to tide over the water crisis faced due to drastic reduction in discharge of water from the sources. He informed that out of 2050 schemes, 40 schemes had got affected due to recent snowfall at higher reaches or depletion of sources. He revealed that 26 of these affected schemes had been restored by the Department and 14 more are currently being looked after for restoration.
He further informed that 78 government owned and 13 private water tankers had been put into service to supply portable water to the areas where there is scarcity of the same.
Moreover, it was added that steps like embedding and insulation of exposed pipes, provisioning of 328 DG sets to overcome the eventual power cuts, diversion of raw water by making stone bunds besides establishing district and divisional level control rooms for public for resolving their water related problems in a time-bound manner are being taken up.
