Uninterrupted power supply possible with 100% metering: Omar Abdullah
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said people in the Valley were facing difficulties due to intense cold conditions but the government would be able to provide uninterrupted electricity only after 100 per cent metering is achieved.
The Chief Minister said the complaints of unscheduled power cuts would continue “because there is pressure on the system”.
“The problem is that some people have a (load) agreement of four bulbs, but they use four heaters instead... Meter is the best way to address this, the more metering we have, the less power cuts there will be.
“I hope we take J&K to 100 per cent metering so that we supply 24 hours electricity. God willing, we will achieve that very soon,” he added.
“Our endeavour is to minimise the power cuts, and ensure water supply even as pipes freeze due to the low temperature. Despite difficulties, our endeavour is that the government functions smoothly,” Abdullah said.
The Chief Minister’s statement comes even as several political leaders and legislators, even from his own National Conference (NC) party, have raised the issue about water and power scarcity amid the harsh weather conditions.
On Thursday, the Chief Minister convened a meeting with National Conference legislators from Srinagar at his Gupkar residence where the MLAs “highlighted pressing issues concerning Srinagar, including water scarcity, power crisis, and other challenges faced by the residents,” according to a party statement.
“The Chief Minister assured the legislators that Srinagar would be given the highest priority and that all issues would be addressed promptly,” the National Conference wrote on X.
Omar Abdullah said the government is making attempts to maintain a contact with the people and address their demands and difficulties, even as some issues will persist until statehood is restored. “There are several issues which cannot be resolved rapidly, there are issues which cannot be dealt under the UT and for those we have to get our state back. But, attempts are being made to at least listen to their problems and assure them that it is their own elected government and there is no issue which we will not listen to,” he said.
Last week, People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone said with temperatures plunging to record low levels, “electricity outages are creating their own records.”
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also condemned the ongoing power cuts and water crisis in Kashmir, accusing the NC government of failing to address these critical issues.
