Srinagar, Mar 22: The Srinagarites have appealed the government to revise the power curtailment schedule enforced by the Power Development Department in the metered and non-metered areas of the summer Capital.
 “The government chalked out the power curtailment after the onset of 40-day period of Chilay-e-Kalan with a reason that power generation in the hydroelectric power projects were on decline following less discharge in the rivers. However, the valley has witnessed heavy snowfall and subsequent rainfall thereafter. Now, the power generation should have improved considerably,” the residents of Gaw Kadal said adding the government should ask the PDD to revise the curtailment schedule at an earliest.
 The residents said that despite receiving electricity for few hours during the day and night in winter, they had paid the monthly tariff according to the agreement done with the PDD.
 “The PDD officials should take this into consideration and revise the power curtailment schedule immediately to provide relief to the people of the district who suffered immensely during the winter,” the residents added.
 According to the residents of Habba Kadal, Amira Kadal, Fateh Kadal, Soura, Dargah, Hyderpora, Barzulla and Rajbagh, the people were avoiding the use of heat convectors and blowers following change in the temperature.
 “The chilling weather condition has gone and now the people don’t even use the heat blowers, which according to the PDD were prime source of overload,” the appellants told Greater Kashmir.
 They also accused the PDD of being indifferent towards grievances of the Srinagarites. “With the onset of winter, the senior functionaries of the department issue curtailment schedule forthwith. But when the weather improves and the discharge in rivers increases, they don’t make any attempts to change the harsh schedule immediately,” the inhabitants added.
 They alleged the PDD officials revise the schedule only after the Durbar offices shift to Srinagar “only to provide uninterrupted supply to the influential persons.”
 The residents said that with the PDD proposing hike in monthly tariff, it should also take measures to provide uninterrupted power supply to these areas.
 The residents also accused the PDD of resorting to unscheduled power cuts. “The department doesn’t also follow the prescribed schedule,” the residents of these areas said.
 They appealed the Chief Engineer PDD to look into their grievances.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST