Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Jun 20: Amid the persistent power cuts across the Valley, the administration has been looking for an alternative to purchase electricity at the cheapest rates in the markets to ensure better power supply to the consumers across Kashmir.
Reliable sources privy to the development said that the electricity rates per unit are high at the spot markets and thus it has become unaffordable to purchase the electricity at Rs 6 per unit as the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has been supplying same unit to the consumers at the rate of Rs 2 or Rs 2.50.
“The government has been looking for an alternative at present and trying to purchase the electricity at the cheapest rates to put an end to the sufferings of people, who have been witnessing erratic power supply,” the sources said.
They added that the KPDCL has been presently managing the electricity by resorting to power cuts in both rural and City areas. “Besides, it is important to share that the demand for electricity has increased. It seems that the people might have been resorting to the use of more gadgets now and thus the demand has increased unlike the past,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer, KPDCL when contacted, said that they have supplied 10 per cent more electricity than previous year. “The department has augmented the power infra and thereby 10 per cent extra electricity has been supplied to the consumers this year,” he said.
Asked about any relief in power cuts, he said that KPDCL has a domain to supply the electricity only and it is being supplied as per the availability.
