As the losses came down, there has been no change in the power supplies with the people irked by the erratic power continue to take to streets.
The government here claims that its main objective is to supply hassle free power to the state which is only possible after containing the T&D losses.
The details informed that though the reduction is losses has went down by 15 percent, no effort was made by the state dispensation in improving the power supplies to the already flood torn valley.
The PDD in its usual rhetoric continues to state that until the losses come down, hassle free power would remain a herculean task.
Despite the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in Jammu and Kashmir coming down from 73 percent in 2011-12 to 58 percent, there has been no change in the power curtailment schedule in Kashmir valley which continues to reel under darkness amid intense cold at present. The documents in possession of The Kashmir Leader reveal that the AT&C and T&D losses were estimated to be 72.76 percent during the year 2011- 12 but it drastically went down to 58 percent- marking the reduction of 15 percent in the power losses. As per the statistics, one would have hoped to look for better power supplies in valley especially during the winter months. Contrary to this, there has been no ef- fort made by the government to mitigate peoples’ woes. State Power Development Department comes out with the reason every year that the losses incurred by the department compel it to go for the curtailment particularly during the winter months in valley.
The state government here maintains that the high percentage of AT&C losses is due to the pilferage of the electricity. The department has always been striving hard for containing the losses through various means like conducting regular inspections, upgradation of the system, improving distribution network, reducing LT/HT ratio, imposition of penalty to the violators, regularisation of the un-authorized load, proper accounting of the energy consumed, supervision of non- judicious wasteful consumption. As the losses came down, there has been no change in the power supplies with the people irked by the erratic power continue to take to streets. The government here claims that its main objective is to supply hassle free power to the state which is only pos- sible after containing the T&D losses.
The details informed that though the reduction is losses has went down by 15 percent, no effort was made by the state dispensation in improving the power supplies to the already flood torn valley. The PDD in its usual rhetoric continues to state that until the losses come down, hassle free power would remain a herculean task. The PDD chief Engineer said that the effective way of reducing the losses to the acceptable level is to insulate the distribution system. He added such an excursive is being implemented in 30 towns of Jammu and Kashmir that have the population of ten thousand as per the census of 2001.
The state authorities maintained that the main objective of insulating the distribution system would be to avoid hooking and maximum load on the system. It will be also aimed at bi- furcation of DT capacity, reduction of HT/LT ratio, upgradation of 33/11 KV substations to meet the power require- ments. Official sources told The Kashmir Leader that such project was kept in back burner by the previous regime in Jammu and Kashmir due to which its implementation remained a distant dream for the PDD. Though a detailed project was submitted by the department to the concerned ministry, no action was taken for its implementation.
Reports informed that particularly due elections, round the corner, the insulation of distribution lines would have created an ill-will against the government as the installation of the meters did in several areas earlier. Sources said that due to poll politics, such a project though which the T&D losses could come down never saw day’s light and valley continues to reel under darkness. “15 percent reduction is not enough. At a time when the demand raises, we have to minimize the losses. Hopefully, the new government would take a call over such issue to insulate the distribution system in valley as well as in Jammu,” senior PDD official told this newspaper while pleading anonymity.
