J

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Srinagar, Sep 23 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir is importing 1.28 crore units of power from different states daily on very higher price and sell on very low rate to consumers.

''Besides our own production, we are importing one crore and 28 lakh unit of power from different states and northern grid at the rate of Rs ten per unit,'' Chief Engineering Aftab Ahmad said in a live question-answer programme on Doordarshan here last evening.

He said before the holy month of Ramzan, the state was importing only one crore units.

However, to ensure adequate power during Sehri and Iftar, J&K has imported additonal 28 lakh units, he said.

Mr Aftab said the power was being supplied to consumers at 90 paisa, Rs one and fourteen paisa and Rs one and paisa forty per unit against the purchasing rate of Rs ten per unit.

He said the gap between purchase and sell per unit is very big which eats the vitals of the department.

However, he said, the Power Development Department (PDD) has nothing to do with the tariff since it was being fixed by Electric Regulatory Commisson (ERC), an independent legal authority.

''It is a consumer friendly body and we are not being heard properly by the it,'' Mr Aftab said.

When a caller alleged that other than routine power curtailment, people are facing frequent power cuts besides low voltage, Mr Aftab said this was because of power theft.

He said if we take into consideration the load agreement, we have enough power to supply round the clock power to all consumers in the valley.

''But, due to power theft being indulged not only by middle and lower class, but people belonging to very upper class, the things go worst for the department,'' he said.

Mr Aftab said he had received complaints about power theft from different areas. ''We will start raids against power theft after Eid festival,'' he said adding besides imposing fine, their names will be published in newspapers.

About the metering in the valley, Mr Aftab said there were complaints that during low voltage some of the meters were not working.

He said the PDD has now placed an order with a company at Bangalore for new generation meters, which will work under all circumstances.

MORE UNI BAS YSS MP AS1548

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X