Raid squads activated, 36 megawatts of power saved per day in Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 2: To stop power theft, the authorities have activated squads to conduct raids in Srinagar district, where some 30 to 35 megawatts of power was being saved daily, an official spokesman said.
      However, concerned over the reports about unscheduled power cuts, the Deputy Commissioner (DC), Srinagar, Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to ensure strict adherence to curtailment scheduled issued by the department.
      He said DC also directed for activating raid squads, comprising Tehsildars, and components of police and administration, to ensure no power thefts occur.
      It was said that the raids save some 30-35 megawatts of power on a day to day basis at a meeting convened to review the current power scenario in the district.
       The meeting was informed that the Srinagar district has about 450 megawatts worth of power demand during winters, but with the total transmission capacity falling short by about a one-third of the total demand of 1800 megawatts in the Valley, the district has to have a power curtailment of certain fixed hours per day.
It was said that the Srinagar district is 65 per cent metered where a curtailment period of 3 hours per day has been fixed against a power curtailment period of 6 hours fixed for its non-metered areas.
However, it was said that 220 kV Transmission Line from Ladakh to Srinagar shall improve reliability of power supply in the district once it is completed, which is expected in due course.
The DC instructed the Superintendent of Engineers (SEs) to coordinate in order to ensure there are no unscheduled power cuts in the district. He directed for ensuring complete adherence to the power curtailment roster for the district.
The DC also directed for activating raid squads – comprising Tehsildars, and components of police and administration – to ensure no power thefts occur. It was said that the raids save some 30-35 megawatts of power on a day to day basis.
Dr Shah also issued strict instructions calling for prior notification of power cuts on account of technical problems in order that the general public is aware about it. He also instructed for designating an official for communicating power cuts through the media to the general public.
The DC also directed for ensuring damaged transformers are repaired or replaced within 48 hours of their malfunction. UNI