Srinagar, Oct 30 (KNO): Calling reliable electricity supply an essential public service, Minister for Power Development Department Ali Mohammad Sagar on Friday directed officials to put in place comprehensive winter arrangements, particularly for snow-bound, remote and far-flung areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The ultimate objective of every departmental initiative must be to ensure improved power supply and better consumer satisfaction,” Sagar said while chairing a review meeting of the Power Development Department at the Civil Secretariat.
The minister, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), directed officials to maintain adequate stocks of transformers, cables, conductors and other essential equipment at strategically identified locations to ensure immediate restoration of electricity during breakdowns and emergencies, especially amid heavy snowfall.
“Winter preparedness must be reflected in tangible arrangements on the ground,” he stressed, calling for regular inspection of vulnerable infrastructure, deployment of adequate technical manpower and stronger field-level response mechanisms.
The minister directed officials to accord priority to uninterrupted power supply to hospitals, healthcare centres, drinking water installations and other essential services during adverse weather conditions.
During the meeting, the demand-supply position was reviewed, with a proposal to procure around 200 MW of additional power from Uttar Pradesh through power exchange arrangements discussed to bridge the gap during peak winter demand.
Sagar called for expediting works under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), strengthening the distribution network, replacing overloaded transformers and reducing technical and commercial losses.
Reviewing smart meter installation, he said technological interventions should promote transparency, accurate billing and improved consumer services. He also directed officials to ensure prompt redressal of complaints related to unscheduled power cuts, faulty transformers, low voltage and delayed restoration.
The minister reviewed the progress of major power projects, transmission lines, grid stations and generation capacity, directing officers to remove bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of ongoing works. He took up the long-pending issues of PDL and CLW workers, calling for a fair and time-bound examination of their cases under applicable government rules and policies.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to quality public services, Sagar said the department must adopt a proactive, accountable and result-oriented approach, with the actual improvement in consumer services serving as the key measure of its performance.
The meeting was attended by managing directors of power corporations, senior departmental officers, chief engineers and other field functionaries. Officers based in Jammu participated through virtual mode—(KNO)