Srinagar, October 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has directed the Power Development Department (PDD) to rigorously follow the announced power curtailment schedule, emphasizing his personal oversight during the winter months.
During a review meeting with key officials, including Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Abdullah stressed that adherence to the curtailment schedule is crucial for maintaining credibility. He called for a re-examination of the schedule based on current resources and anticipated needs, ensuring it remains fair and free from political influence.
The Chief Minister proposed rewarding areas that efficiently manage electricity usage, highlighting the importance of localized performance metrics. With forecasts indicating an early winter, he urged PDD to expedite preparations and complete seasonal pruning within three to four weeks.
The meeting also covered strategies to address winter power deficits, including banking agreements for additional energy and efforts to reduce Aggregate, Technical, and Commercial (AT&C) losses.
Principal Secretary PDD Rajesh H. Prasad presented a detailed overview of the current power scenario, focusing on enhancing billing systems and ensuring timely project implementation before winter.