Notwithstanding the public resentment against the hike in monthly electricity bills, the authorities at the Power Development Department (PDD) on Thursday said the charges will increase further as the installation of LT cables and smart meters will display consumer’s actual electricity consumption.
Alleging that many consumers use four to five times more electricity beyond their sanctioned load, the PDD Chief Engineer (Distribution), Javid Ahmad told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that there will be a revision of tariffs.
“With the installation of LT cables and smart meters, the people will come to know about their actual electricity consumption as many people are sanctioned with 0.5 KV load but are using 5 KV. So, it is still way below what they are paying against the consumption,” he explained.
Stating that the billing tariff will not remain the same indefinitely, he said power is a commodity that needs to be purchased by the government.
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Rejecting the people’s demands of switching back to their previous monthly electricity bills, the chief engineer termed those “out of question”. “People at many places protested against the installation of smart meters and LT cables, but ultimately these were installed. We have to move ahead and treat electricity as a commercial commodity,” he stressed.
Terming the hike as “arbitrary”, the people from various localities of the Safakadal area in Srinagar on Wednesday staged a protest against the PDD.
The protestors said they are witnessing a regular increase in their monthly power bills, and urged the authorities to restore their monthly electricity billing to their earlier tariff.
Consumers aghast, say no fun of smart meters when power plays hide& seek; Talks on, expect additional power in coming days, says CE, KPDCL
The power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is becoming worse as consumers are facing long power cuts during the day with authorities claiming that the talks to resolve the issue are on and in the coming days “things would improve.”
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However, the local consumers told that the power scenario has worsened across the valley as just 4-5 hours of electricity is being supplied to them on a daily basis at a time when smart meters have been installed in almost half of Srinagar city with a promise of 24×7 power supply.
The irked consumers said that in both metered and non-metered areas, the erratic power supply from the past over two weeks have caused immense hardships to them.
“We were expecting an improvement in the power scenario after the installation of smart meters and also the augmentation of power infrastructure in the past four years, but all in vain as the situation has worsened ahead of the winters in Kashmir,” the consumers said.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation limited (KPDCL), Javed Yousuf Dar told that the government is finding ways to resolve the issue of power paucity in J&K.
“The talks are going on with NTPC and others to get extra electricity for the people in J&K. We are expecting to get additional electricity in the coming days, which would help in resolving the present electricity situation,” he said.
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He, however, stated that he was not aware about the huge debt of electricity purchase from outside.
Asked about the present electricity situation, the Chief Engineer, KPDCL, said that the low precipitation in the previous months has led to the reduction in discharge of water level in the water bodies, which simultaneously hit the power generation at major power houses as well.
“We are on it and we expect the issue to be resolved within a few days,” he said. KNO
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that the video news item suggesting that suspended police officer Adil Mushtaq’s involvement in Kokernag terror incident is baseless, saying that this type of irresponsible journalism is an act of criminal misconduct and is liable for legal action.
Kashmir Zone Police in a post on X (formally twitter) quoted ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar as saying that said that there is no truth to this video news, adding that DySP Adil Mushtaq is being investigated for an entirely different case in Srinagar district and not in Anantnag.
“It has come to notice that a video news item has been uploaded purportedly issued by a news agency by the name of Bharat TAK suggesting that DSP Adil Mushtaq is involved in the Kokernag terror incident as an insider betrayal. There is no truth to this video news,” Kashmir Zone Police in a post on X, said.
It has come to notice that a video news item has been uploaded purportedly issued by a news agency by the name of Bharat TAK suggesting that DSP Adil Mushtaq is involved in the Kokernag terror incident as an insider betrayal. There is no truth to this video news. (1/2)— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 3, 2023
“DSP Adil Mushtaq is being investigated for an entirely different case in Srinagar district and not in Anantnag. This type of #irresponsible #journalism is also an act of criminal misconduct and is liable for legal action: ADGP Kashmir.”
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DSP Adil Mushtaq is being investigated for an entirely different case in Srinagar district and not in Anantnag. This type of #irresponsible#journalism is also an act of criminal misconduct and is liable for legal action: ADGP Kashmir (2/2)@JmuKmrPolice— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) October 3, 2023
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said to have solved a burglary case by arresting 04 rustlers and recovered 16 stolen sheep from their possession in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
In a statement issued to Asian News Hub (ANH) a police spokesman said on 22/09/2023, Police Station Lar received a written complaint from Mohammad Iqbal Thekri son of Makhan Thekri resident of Kathua A/P Yangoora Lar stating therein that few days ago, during the night hours some unknown thieves barged into his cowshed and had stolen 16 Sheep worth lacs.
Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 55/2023 under relevant sections of law was registered at PS Lar and investigation was initiated.
He said, during the course of investigation, a team was constituted under the supervision of DySP Hqrs Ganderbal led by SHO PS Lar, on the directions of SSP Ganderbal Nikhil Borkar. After strenuous efforts, the Police team apprehended four persons identified as Mudasir Ahmad Dar son of Gh Rasool Dar resident of Ari Goripora Kangan, Shabir Ahmad Mir son of Ab Khaliq Mir resident of Ari Goripora Kangan, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir son of Ab Rashid Mir resident of Ari Goripora Kangan and Riyaz Ahmad Damiyal son of Mohd Shafi Damiyal resident of Gund Aku.
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During questioning, they admitted their involvement in the commission of crime. On their disclosure, stolen 16 sheep were recovered. The accused persons have been shifted to Police Station where they remain in custody, he said.
The locals of the area have hailed and appreciated the efforts of Police for swift action in solving the theft case within the shortest possible time. General Public is requested to co-operate with J&K Police & share inputs of crime so that effective measures will be taken well on time, the spokesman added.