CS’S ASSERTION RIGHT
The Chief Secretary has rightly asserted that unscheduled power cuts were unacceptable and therefore power distribution companies should ensure that such a situation doesn’t arise under any circumstances. Though the top officer was assessing the situation on account of winter preparedness, the problem of power outage remained an issue in J&K since ages. There is not an iota of doubt that after LG Manoj Sinha has taken over the reins of the Union Territory of J&K the power scenario has been improved drastically and many issues which used to irk the resident of the region have been eliminated slowly and steadily. As the Chief Secretary has pointed out this significant issue and subsequently directed the concerned officials of the power distribution companies to ensure that power continues to flow in conductors until there is publication of power cut schedule, it is likely that things will get better in the coming days. The J&K, despite being a large contributor of electricity to the country through its power projects, the electricity supply remained a major problem due to several archaic factors with power theft topping the list. Despite frequent amnesty schemes and counseling of habitual offenders the problem of power theft has remained nightmarish for the department because revenue collection is a big problem in J&K due to reluctant consumers. It is good that the Chief Secretary has instructed the officers to ensure that government workshops were replenished with spare parts, inspections of transformers should be undertaken, and sufficient stock of transformers maintained to meet the demand during peak consumption season. There is no doubt that government is taking all the necessary steps to improve the power scenario like installation of insulated cables, action against the habitual offenders and switching over to smart metering system in order to put the power sector back on track as losses incurred in this sector in the past were colossal and used to affect the supply line badly especially during the winters when demand was high. As the J&K is developing with exemplary pace especially after the inception of LG’s administration the power demand has increased equally during the summer and winter months due to more and more electrical gadgets finding place in households therefore the concerned department should act accordingly to streamline all the things necessary for uninterrupted power supply round the year and also to generate revenue to the full capacity as this is vital for sustenance of efficient power scenario in J&K.