Strongly countering the report published today in ‘News Now’ newspaper and circulated on social media regarding the power supply situation in Kashmir Valley, the Power Development Department has termed the news as factually incorrect and misleading.
A PDD spokesman said that the department has supplied additional power of around 100 MW to Kashmir region during the winter season this year (last 20 days), as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Giving break up about the power supply data, the document read that there was an average power supply of 1388 MW in 2023-24 against 1489 MW in 2024-25 from 16th to 30th of November recording an additional supply of 101 MW, 1465 MW in 2023-24 against 1525 MW in 2024-25 from 1st to 4th December registering an additional supply of 60 MW and 1450 MW in 2023-24 against 1595 MW in 2024-25 from 4th to 8th December making an additional supply of 145 MW.
The rebuttal reads “As would therefore be seen, it is incorrect to say that Kashmir region has been supplied less power during these winters. In fact, out of concern about the power shortage in Kashmir during winters, the Chief Minister, in a meeting with the Union Power Minister held in October, had requested for his intervention for additional power as a short-term measure to address the rising demand due to dropping temperatures in the valley.
It may be noted that in a major relief for the public, the Ministry of Power has allocated 300 MW of firm power to Jammu and Kashmir to meet winter demand, on 7th November 2024. The report about less power supplied to Kashmir region during this winter is factually incorrect.
The document further added that following up on this, on 4th December 2024, the J&K Chief Minister reviewed the power supply position in the UT and instructed to ensure that Kashmir doesn’t suffer on account of power shortage this winter. He also directed the PDD to formulate a better curtailment schedule, with less power cuts and also ensuring strict adherence to the same. Observing that 24×7 power supply may not be a reality during the winters this time, and also that unscheduled and irregular cuts are an even bigger problem, he directed the Principal Secretary PDD and the two MDs of Discoms to ensure that the publicised load curtailment schedule is adhered to, to the last minute. While agreeing to the Finance Secretary’s observations on the revenue gaps from the power dues’ recovery, he emphasised that these are two separate issues and need to be seen separately. While on the one hand the government must strive to provide regular power, the department should be made more accountable for affecting recoveries of the power dues and curbing power thefts.”
”While the Government is committed for 24×7 power, it appeals to the general public to use power judiciously and minimise energy wastage, particularly by avoiding high power consuming electrical appliances like crude water heaters and other energy guzzlers. The citizens must also realize that no resource can be supplied free of cost endlessly. The department remains committed to provide reliable power supply to the citizens.”, added the rebuttal, reads the statement.(GNS)
