CM Abdullah reviews power supply plans to combat increased demand

SRINAGAR, DEC 23 : As the Kashmir Valley endures a severe cold wave, severely affecting power and water supply, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened a high-level meeting to assess the region’s power situation.
Stationed in the valley to personally manage the crisis during this challenging time, Chief Minister Abdullah emphasised the need for effective measures to tackle power shortages and ensure the delivery of essential services to residents.
The meeting focused on a comprehensive strategy to manage peak electricity demand during the harsh winter months. Chief Minister Abdullah directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to strictly adhere to the scheduled curtailment program, ensuring proper publicity of planned power outages to keep consumers informed in advance.
During the review, the Chief Minister was briefed on the current power scenario, including the Load Curtailment Plan (LCP) and the demand-versus-consumption statistics. Despite a 7-8% increase in electricity supply compared to last year, officials reported that the extreme cold has led to a significant rise in load demand, exceeding available resources. Additionally, record-low power generation, due to minimal water discharge in hydroelectric plants, has further exacerbated the situation.
Officials also outlined efforts to reduce the demand-supply gap, noting that substantial capacity additions have been made since the last winter to meet the increased demand.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to rationalise the load curtailment program based on the loss profile of feeders and explore options to enhance power allocation. He also stressed the importance of ensuring equitable distribution of electricity while incentivizing law-abiding consumers. The Chief Minister emphasised that adequate power supply, particularly during this cold wave, must be maintained for the public, especially for essential services.
Chief Secretary Atal Duloo attended the meeting virtually, while Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary PDD Rajesh H Prasad, Managing Directors of JKPTCL and KPDCL, and Chief Engineers of various PDD wings were also present.
Highlighting the need for improved monitoring, the Chief Minister called for the smart metering of Distribution Transformers (DTs) and feeders to enhance the efficiency of the power distribution system.
Later, the Chief Minister inspected the Sub Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) at Bemina to review the load monitoring system. He was briefed on division- and district-wise power load and consumption, directing officials to allocate electricity with maximum efficiency to minimize disruptions. Reaffirming his commitment to addressing the hardships posed by the ongoing cold wave, Chief Minister Abdullah urged PDD authorities to prioritize uninterrupted power supply for essential services and remain proactive in managing the challenges caused by the extreme winter conditions.