‘New schedule to be announced by Mar end’
Srinagar: The government on Monday said that the curtailment has been reduced by three hours and that the new power schedule will be announced by the end of March.
Talking to a local news gathering agency, Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL), Javed Yousuf Dar, said that there has been reduction in the power curtailment since the beginning of this month.
He also said that in the metered areas, the power curtailment in less than three hours.
“We are planning to come up with the new power schedule by the end of March,” he said.
Earlier, the KPDCL in wake of the winter season had announced curtailment schedule in Kashmir. The authorities had decided to go for eight hour curtailment for non-metered areas and 4.5-hour power cuts in the metered areas.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Managing Director, KPDCL, regarding the progress of Smart Meter installations in Srinagar.
Initially the chair was apprised by the concerned officials of the KPDCL and TKC’s regarding the progress of the smart meter installation progress. Following points were discussed during the meet.
The slow progress of TKC’s regarding installation of smart meters was seriously viewed by the chair and directions were issued on spot to increase the workforce to meet the deadline.
Various officials of KPDCL were directed to work in synchronization with the concerned officials of District Administration to minimize the protests against installations of the meters.
TKC’s were given strict directions regarding the Non-Communicating Meters and were directed to resolve the issue as soon as possible without any fail.
Damaged meters need to be replaced with new ones and the concerned Turnkey Contractors were given directions to install new ones within least possible time.
The chair also issued directions to TKC’s to give wide publicity regarding the advantages of Smart meters.
Instructions were passed on to disconnect all the defaulters, the statement said.
Hoardings will go up across the city centres so as to give wide publicity regarding advantages of Electric Smart meters.
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer (Distribution), KPDCL, Superintending Engineer Circle Ist, KPDCL, Executive Engineers of O&M Div Ist and 4th, AEE’s and Territorial SDO’s and officials of Turnkey Contractors(Anvil Cables and Techno Ltd). (KNO)