SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Surinder Kumar Choudhary, said on Friday that there are loopholes in the power sector and additional stock is needed ahead of potential harsh winters and snowfall.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said that a review meeting with the Power Development Department (PDD) was held in Srinagar under the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“We reviewed the available stock and identified loopholes in the power sector. We found that some gaps persist, and there is a need for more stock to prepare for potential harsh winters and snowfall,” he said.
Choudhary further remarked that the people of Jammu and Kashmir now have an elected government, and if they face issues like unscheduled power cuts or distress cuts in Kashmir, they can approach their elected representatives with their complaints.
“People will feel reassured that their elected government is actively working to provide them with the promised facilities,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister added, “We assure the public of Kashmir that government representatives are in place, and during the snowfall season, they will not face any problems.”
A senior official noted that power demand has risen significantly over the past two weeks, necessitating additional electricity to address the shortage.
“We are expecting more power from the authorities in response to our request. Let’s see what we receive,” the official stated.
He further explained, “At present, the unrestricted electricity demand, including the ongoing power curtailment schedule, has reached 2,600–2,700 megawatts. However, we currently have only 1,450 MW of power available.” (KNO)
