No unscheduled power cuts in Kashmir last winter: Omar

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today informed the Legislative Assembly that no unscheduled power cuts were imposed in the Kashmir Valley during the last winter, despite a substantial rise in demand due to heating load.
Responding to a question by NC MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi, the Power Minister, who is also the Chief Minister, said that even though the Valley usually faces power shortages and unscheduled cuts during winters, the Government successfully ensured uninterrupted power supply last season.
According to the minister’s written reply, the linkage of curtailment to seasons has been abolished.
“Scheduled curtailment is now limited to zero, two, and four hours for essential/below 15% loss feeders, 15-40% loss feeders, and 40% plus loss feeders respectively, throughout the year for both Kashmir and Jammu divisions,” the minister said.
He added that no additional or distress cuts are permitted in Kashmir during winters or in Jammu during summers.
“Any additional distress cuts necessitated by power availability limitations are to be imposed only in Jammu from October to March, and in Kashmir from April to September,” the reply stated.
The Power Minister further noted that the department has also ended the practice of increasing curtailment hours based on loss levels. Instead, disciplinary action is now taken against officers who fail to bill or recover energy charges, which has encouraged better efficiency in billing and collections.
The Government also informed the Legislative Assembly that the promise of 200 units of free electricity made by the Chief Minister earlier this year will be implemented only after the commissioning of rooftop solar systems under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
The MLA Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, today urged the Government to announce a one-time amnesty scheme for poor consumers unable to clear their pending electricity dues.
Supporting the demand, MLA Thannamandi, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, also sought compensation for farmers whose crops were damaged in recent floods and urged that consumers from his constituency be included in the proposed one-time power amnesty scheme.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Waheed Parra, the Government said the scheme will benefit 2.22 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, with each home equipped with a 2-kilowatt rooftop solar system.

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