Srinagar : People should use the electricity judiciously and avoid the use of crude appliances in order to avoid its deleterious impact besides ensuring payment of bills on each month’s end, said Executive Engineer PDD Kulgam Abdul Hameed Akhoon.

In an exclusive interview with , Executive Engineer PDD Kulgam Abdul Hameed Akhoon shed a light on number issues with regard to electricity in Kulgam district.

CNS: People in Kulgam have been complaining about the snapping of electricity by the PDD Department without adhering to schedule, what is your take on it?

Exen PDD Kulgam: I am thankful for you to come here to help in disseminating the information for the public at large. Actually, there are two types of curtailments, one is for metered areas and another for non-metered areas. In metered areas, the electricity remains off for 4-6 hours during the day which include distress cuts as well from the grid station.

However, there was a lot of improvement in the distress cuts from some days after being provided with 500 MWs of electricity by the help of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Currently, we are witnessing only one to one and half hours of distress cut, the rest of the curtailment schedule remains the same. We are trying our best that the electricity is provided to the people as per the schedule and to manage the distress cuts as well. You are also aware that in the winter season, the demand for electricity increases.

We are supplying 140 MW of electricity to Kulgam district at present against the demand of over 200 MW. But still we saw a turnaround in the power scenario in Kugam since the receiving of additional 500 MW electricity by J&K.

CNS: It has also been learnt that people themselves get damaged transformers repaired by collecting money from households.

Exen PDD Kulgam: I am hearing from you that this thing is happening as I was never apprised about it earlier. I will ensure such things do not happen. We are given direction from the Lieutenant Governor to repair the damaged transformers within 24 hours or 48 hours of time frame. We have two trucks in our workshop for bringing damaged transformers and after repairing them are installed within 24 or 48 hours of time. Regarding the query cited, I will get its verification done.

CNI: People are also alleging the lack of oil in transformers and get compelled to purchase it with their own money.

Exen PDD Kulgam: Actually, the transformer oil is a general issue. Our transformers are overloaded as people use crude appliances like heaters, boilers etc., resulting in heating up of transformers, which spills out the oil thereby reducing its quantity. We always try our best to fill the transformers with adequate oil and we do not have its dearth. The AEEs were also supplied with the oil so that those transformers, having low-level of oil in it, can be refilled. Even the sub-divisions were also provided with oil recently so that the transformers can be saved from damage. We are always in an effort to streamline the system.

CNS: It has also been observed that department’s employees, especially linemen and inspectors, are posted at one place for a longer period without transferring them. What would you like to say about it?

Exen PDD Kulgam: The transfers were earlier being done on the Xen level but are currently in the remit of the Chief Engineer, who from time to time does order the transfers of employees. Maybe, they [the linemen and inspector] too might be transferred in a couple of months.

CNS: What will be your message for the people of Kulgam as you are in such an important position?

Exen PDD Kulgam: I want to tell them that they should use the electricity in a judicious manner and consider it for the purpose of light and not for preparing food. They should also avoid putting crude boilers in water tankies, which has a negative effect on both the electricity and them as well. The power bill at the end of the month should also be paid so that that department as well as people will run.CNI