Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 15: Amid surge in damage to electric transformers, the government is mulling to replace damaged transformers in four hours in city areas of both Jammu and Kashmir regions.
However, in case of damage to electric transformers in rural areas, authorities said that they will replace it within 24-hours.
Principal Secretary Power Development Department (PDD) H. Rajesh Prasad said “We want damaged transformers to be maintained and replaced at earliest because when there would be no transformer in the area, there will not be electricity.”
He said, “The administration had instructed us to replace or repair the damaged transformers in four hours in city areas of both Jammu and Kashmir regions.”
“In case of rural areas, we are already trying to replace damaged transformers in 24 hours to provide uninterrupted power supply as per the schedule,” Prasad said.
The Principal Secretary however said that it may take more than 24 hours for PDD to replace the transformers in far flung places.
When asked about the installation of smart meters, Prasad said, “Out of 21 lakh consumers, as of now we have already installed 4.27 Lakh smart meters in Jammu and Kashmir.”
About the unscheduled power cuts, the principal secretary said that the government has already instructed the concerned authorities to stick to the prescribed schedule.
“We have also instructed that there shall not be any unscheduled power cuts unless that is required for the maintenance purposes,” he said.
On asking about the complaints of ongoing unscheduled power cuts in various areas of Kashmir region, Prasad said, “We will streamline everything and will not keep any gap.”
“In some areas the unscheduled power cuts may occur due to technical difficulties,” he said. Meanwhile, locals of various parts of South, north and Central Kashmir said that they are facing unscheduled cuts during day time especially during evening hours. They sought the LG Manoj Sinha’s intervention to end the pesky power cuts during bone chilling cold.
