Srinagar, Mar 23: The government on Sunday said that significant advancements have been made in the power infrastructure of Sopore town through the installation of smart meters and the laying of insulated LT/HT cables in key areas.
These improvements carried out under centrally-sponsored schemes like the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), have enhanced the quality and duration of power supply in localities such as Model Town, Court Road and Galabad.
In a written reply to a question ‘whether it is a fact that Smart Meters were installed and insulated LT/HT cables were laid in Sopore town…’, raised by MLA Sopore, Irshad Rasool Kar, the government said 10MVA 33/11kV Receiving Station at Warpora was initially proposed as part of a perspective plan. Instead, the existing Watlab Receiving Station was upgraded from 1×6.3 MVA to 2×6.3 MVA under the PMDP, and completed in 2019.
“The upgraded Watlab Receiving Station has been supplying power to the Warpora area through the 11 KV Warpora feeder. However, with the increasing load demand, the feeder load reaches 460 Amps during peak hours,” it said.
The government further said that to address this, the department has initiated a fresh technical feasibility survey to assess the need for a new Receiving Station at Warpora. A decision on the new Receiving Station will be taken based on the survey results.
“The electrical infrastructure development is underway under various centrally sponsored schemes like PMDP/RDSS. Some areas of Sopore town (Model Town, Court Road, Galabad) have been completed, and 24×7 power supply is being provided. There has been an appreciable Improvement power supply hours and quality of supply in completed areas. Work is in progress for the remaining feeders,” the government said, adding that planned shutdowns are being availed for the execution of works safely, with prior information to the public.
Once the project works are completed, and the loss level of feeders decreases to the desired level, the feeders will qualify for 24×7 power supply, the government said.
It further said that the work of shifting/re-aligning the entire 33 kV line is not covered under any existing projects. However, a separate tap line was taken up from Substation Sopore-1 to the River crossing under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme R-APDRP Part-B to partly shift the line.
“The tap line has been constructed, except for 3 spans near Hassan Motors. The construction of these 3 spans is pending due to a court case (Sub-Judice). The next hearing is scheduled for June 17, 2025. Further action will be taken as per the directions of the court,” the government said in its reply.
