SRINAGAR: The Power Development Department (PDD) on Tuesday said that it will reduce power curtailment during Sehri and Iftaar times in the holy month of Ramadhan.
Additionally, the department is likely to run a trial on a revised schedule before the commencement of Ramadhan.
A top PDD official said that the department has already minimised curtailments in most areas of the Kashmir division. However, it will further reduce them at specific times during Ramadhan.
“We will try to reduce power curtailment at Sehri and Iftaar times. Besides, we are planning to run the minimised curtailment on a trial basis before Ramadhan,” the official said.
The official further added, “PDD has already reduced power curtailments that were in effect from mid-winter. However, wherever we find areas facing excessive curtailment, we will try to minimise it further at Sehri and Iftaar times.”
Pertinently, KNO previously reported that PDD is likely to take a call on modifying the power curtailment schedule a week before Ramadhan begins.
Sources in the department earlier stated that a slight modification in the ongoing curtailment schedule may be considered a week before Ramadhan.
“As of now, PDD has not made a final decision on revising the power curtailment schedule. However, if any modifications are required, the department will take a call a week before Ramadhan begins,” sources said.
Notably, hydel power generation from power plants across Jammu and Kashmir has dropped by 5 per cent over the past month due to low water levels.
Overall, local hydropower generation has declined by 84.17 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir.
In January, the PDD was generating nearly 250 Megawatts of power from local hydel projects, which amounted to 20 per cent of total generation capacity. However, in the ongoing month, power generation has dropped by another 5 per cent. (KNO)
