Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR: As temperatures dip in Kashmir Valley, the power crisis with 12-14 hours of scheduled curtailment and additional unscheduled cuts shows no signs of abating. With the authorities insisting that the problem would be resolved once the smart meter project in Kashmir Valley is complete, it seems consumers may have to wait a few more years before they can dream of round the clock electricity in every locality.
Since the first week of November 2023, the power scenario in the Valley has been consistently deteriorating with consumers complaining about increasing electricity curtailment and blame the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) for failing to meet the needs of the people.
While KPDCL is supplying 1600-1700 megawatts of power, the demand is well above 2500 megawatts during this peak winter season, plunging Kashmir into gloomy darkness.
The KPDCL, however, shifts the blame on the consumers and states that the power crisis stems from non-payment of electricity dues by consumers and power thefts.
Talking to the Kashmir Times, Chief Engineer (Distribution) KPDCL, Javed Yusuf Dar said that basic fault lies with the consumers since they resort to hooking and other illegal means during the peak hours. He said that hooking and other illegal means leads to overloading thus resulting in collapse of the system.
Consumers, however, refute these claims and state that the KPDCL is looking for excuses to cover up for its own incompetence. There may be power thefts but why should a genuine consumer suffer for the fault of violators, they say.
Siraj Ahmad, a resident of Gulshan Nagar-Nowgam told Kashmir Times that despite being a metered area they are being forced to face unscheduled power cuts. He said that Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) never follows the curtailment schedule drawn for the area where he resides.
“The KPDCL had said that the metered areas will have three slots of curtailment with each curtailment slot being of one and half hours, but the same is two hours per slot for our area. In addition to this there are unscheduled power cuts, and these are unlimited and arbitrary,” said Siraj.
While Dar claimed that only consumers, who do not pay their bills, are being punished, consumers say that they are paying more but are still being made to suffer. A former President of Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Association (KHARA), Siraj said, “KPDCL is earning huge revenue from us, still the consumers are being forced to suffer.” He said that there is no accountability of the KPDCL and alleges that the rot lies at the top.
“When we question the linemen working on the ground, they say that they are being forced to snap the power supply on the directions of their higher-ups,” Siraj alleges, and adds that the officers of the KPDCL are looking for excuses while doing nothing to improve the power supply in the valley.
Dar, however, says that the KPDCL is making all efforts to improve the situation by installing meters and ensuring that people pay for what they use. “We are using the carrot and stick policy,” he says and avers that only the defaulters are being punished with excessive power cuts.
Mohammad Owais, a resident of Lal Bazar in downtown Srinagar, said that KPDCL has broken all records in their area since they are facing power cuts for 12 hours in a day. He said that this is despite the fact that the area is a metered one with people paying bills on a regular basis.
“The worst part is that power goes off during the nights in our area and we shiver as the winter is at its peak. It’s a double whammy and there seems to be no light at the end of this dark tunnel. In addition to the daily 12 hours power cut there are un-scheduled cuts as well,” said Owais.
He also said that electricity tariff is very high in Jammu & Kashmir and the same needs to be brought down. Ever since the meters were installed the electricity tariffs have virtually skyrocketed. Consumers were earlier paying a flat rate of Rs 800-1200 a month earlier. Now they are paying three times more, some consumers complained. And, yet they have to suffer agonizing power curtailments for half the day.
The KPDCL authorities, however, insist that paying by meters will improve the quality of power supply. Dar says, “We are switching over to smart meters and gradually the situation is improving. We are supplying round the clock power supply to the people living within the jurisdiction of 22 feeders in the Kashmir valley.”
Ikhrajpora, Radio Colony-Rajbagh is one area that has benefited with this change. Mohammad Abbas, a resident of the area, affirmed that they are now getting round the clock power supply since the last one week. “Not only are we getting round the clock power supply, but the voltage has also improved,” he says.
Dar says, “I expect the number to reach 30 feeders by the end of this month and 40 feeders by the end of next month.” The rosy picture he tries to sketch may not be so promising. As Dar himself admits that for the situation to fully improve and undergo a sea change will take “a couple of years” as and when insulated cable and smart meters come up across the Kashmir valley.
Even if installation of insulated cables and smart meters would help the power crisis, this would mean that people in the Valley may continue to endure the vagaries of power cuts for a couple of more years.
The progress in this regard is too slow and other consumers, who say they are paying their dues, or willing to pay more tariff, say that they feel cheated.
Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Gopalpora-Chadoora said that he was expecting that the power supply to their area would improve this winter since the smart meters were installed along with the insulated cable system. He said the situation has not changed even though there are people who are willing to pay more as electricity tariff.
“What is the point of putting in place smart meters and insulated cables when the people are not entitled to round the clock power supply? I am ready to pay more but the irony is that the department is not ready to supply power according to my demand and need,” said Bashir.
“Instead of cowering behind excuses, the KPDCL should look for a long-term solution,” he says, adding that the officers of KPDCL seem to be beyond any accountability.
“If indeed, there are people who are not paying electricity dues or engaging in power theft, the accountability lies at the door of the KPDCL. Why should a genuine customer suffer on account of the actions of some violator or defaulter? The KPDCL needs to take specific action in each case, not hold the entire population hostage,” Bashir says angrily.
The power crisis is not limited to Srinagar and Budgam district but spills over into other districts, where people allege that the power cuts are more severe. Mohammad Yusuf, a resident of Tral in South Kashmir said that they are facing 12-14 hours of power cuts daily. “The night power cuts have returned to Kashmir valley after many years and that is worrisome,” he says, adding that decades ago the Valley would be steeped into darkness during the bitter cold winter nights.
“If there is no power during the night, there is no hot water in the mornings and as such we have to shiver in sub-zero temperature.,” said Yusuf.
Amidst sub-zero temperatures and shivering dark homes, the biggest challenge is getting on with one’s lives without hot water. “How do we go about our normal lives,” Yusuf complains. “How do we wash, bathe and get ready for work? It also adds to our mental agony and depression,” he adds.
In the past in most Kashmiri houses, people had traditional hot water tanks. These hot water tanks made of copper would give hot water as they were attached to a hot water coil. If the electricity was not available, then people would use timber for heating the water tank since a chamber was made for the same.
Electricity woes are impacting every aspect of life. The youngsters are particularly perturbed. Hadiya, a student, says she can hardly devote her time to studies because “it is dark and cold”.
“Since the traditional hot water tanks have been replaced by electric geysers, people are dependent on electricity for hot water. As areas are subjected to long power cuts, the geysers can’t heat the water. The situation is alarming when the minimum temperature dips many notches below the freezing point,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Zaina Kadal.
Shakeel Ahmad Khan, a resident of Daharmunah-Budgam said that the people of the area have resigned to the fact that they are not going to get more than 12 hours power supply in a day during this winter. Over and above that they are now grappling with unscheduled power cuts as well.
If what the KPDCL officials say is true about linking restoration of power supply to smart meters, many Kashmiris will be compelled to endure this fate of power disruptions for some more years to come.
—–
Have you liked the news article?