Arjumand Shah
Srinagar, Dec 11 (KINS): Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, V K Bidhuri, acknowledged on Wednesday that electricity remains a major challenge during the harsh winters in the region, but assured the public that the administration is making concerted efforts to address the issue.
Speaking to the media according to news agency KINS, Bidhuri detailed the measures being taken to ensure a stable power supply. “Electricity remains a major issue in winters, and the administration is doing its best to deal with the situation as per the demand,” he said.
He revealed that the region has 133 functional power stations of 33 KV and that the majority of the power infrastructure is operational.
“Out of 1,273 KV lines, only six have breakdown issues,” he stated, highlighting the administration’s efforts to maintain the power grid.
Bidhuri explained that the intense cold has led to increased transformer damage, with about 50 transformers facing faults daily. “The administration is working to address these issues as quickly as possible,” he said.
The Divisional Commissioner also stated the challenges posed by the increased use of crude heating devices during winters, which often result in fire incidents.
He appealed to the public to cooperate by using safer and energy-efficient appliances.
“People need to understand the risks associated with such gadgets. Their cooperation is essential to minimize fire mishaps and other losses,” he said.
To address the issue of unscheduled power cuts, Bidhuri said the administration is working at a higher level to minimize disruptions.
He assured the public that efforts are being made to improve the reliability of the power supply, particularly during the peak winter months when demand surges.
On the availability of essentials, Bidhuri shared that adequate stockpiles of key commodities have been secured to avoid inconvenience to the public.
“If we talk about diesel, petrol, or LPG, we have kept stocks available for almost 17-18 days,” he said.
The administration is also monitoring the situation daily to ensure the smooth availability of essential services, he added. (KINS)
