Power Outages Amid Heatwave: Jammu’s Double Whammy”.

New Power Curtailment Schedule Announced Amid Heat Wave.

Div Com reviews status of water, electricity in Jammu Division.

||Black and White Digital News||

||Tejveer Singh May 28, 2024||

Jammu May 27: In a high-stakes meeting chaired by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, the pressing issues of water, electricity, and irrigation supply were brought to the forefront as the Jammu Division braces for a sweltering summer. The session, which included top officials such as the Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Division, and Chief Engineers from Jal Shakti, JPDCL, and Irrigation and Flood Control, underscored the urgency to enhance utility services to mitigate public inconvenience.

Key Points from the Meeting:

1.**Emergency Preparedness**:

Div Com Ramesh Kumar mandated that Chief Engineers ensure their teams and equipment are on standby for rapid response to pipeline repairs, PHE motor replacements, and transformer malfunctions.

2.**Accountability Measures**:

Engineers-in-Chief were instructed to hold Executive Engineers (Xens) and Junior Engineers (JEs) accountable for efficient service delivery.

3.**Public Grievance Redressal**:

Each district is to establish a control room with a designated Nodal Officer to handle public complaints about water and electricity supplies.

4.**Resource Management**:

Deputy Commissioners were tasked with monitoring and swiftly addressing power and water supply issues, maintaining buffer stocks of transformers and water tankers for emergency needs.

5.**Agricultural Support**:

Directions were issued to ensure adequate irrigation canal water supply for farmers, critical during the growing season.

Despite these proactive measures, the situation took a dire turn mere hours after the meeting. The Jammu Power Development Corporation Ltd (JPDCL) announced a new power curtailment schedule, exacerbating the residents’ plight amid an intense heatwave.

” *Power Outages Amid Heatwave: Jammu’s Double Whammy* “

As Jammu experiences its hottest day at 42.8 degrees Celsius, with night temperatures remaining uncomfortably high at 24.7 degrees Celsius, the JPDCL’s announcement of four-hour load-shedding in urban areas and eight-hour load-shedding in rural areas has sparked widespread discontent. The power cuts, divided into morning, afternoon, and evening shifts, are a response to the soaring electricity demand since mid-May, when temperatures first breached the 40-degree mark.

*Details of the New Power Curtailment Schedule:*

**Urban Areas**: Four hours of load-shedding daily.

**Rural Areas**: Eight hours of load-shedding daily.

**Heatwave Persistence**: Meteorological officials forecast continued isolated heatwave conditions until the end of May.

This development follows the JPDCL’s announcement to purchase an additional 200 MWs of power to alleviate the crisis. However, this measure appears insufficient against the backdrop of escalating protests across Jammu and its districts. Residents, frustrated by unscheduled power cuts and water shortages, have taken to the streets, questioning the claims of the Lieutenant Governor’s administration regarding 100% electricity provision to metered locations.

” *Residents Demand Answers: Have They Been Fooled?”*

The intensifying crisis has led to public skepticism about the government’s promises. The repeated assurances of 100% electricity supply to metered areas seem hollow as the region grapples with relentless power outages. Citizens are demanding transparency and effective solutions, accusing the authorities of failing to prepare adequately for the predictable summer surge in utility demand.

*”A Call for Comprehensive Solutions”*

In conclusion, the recent meeting chaired by Div Com Ramesh Kumar aimed to bolster water and power supply management amidst the summer’s peak demands. Yet, the subsequent announcement of a stringent power curtailment schedule has highlighted the ongoing struggle to balance supply with skyrocketing demand. As protests simmer and public discontent grows, there is an urgent need for more robust and transparent measures to ensure that the promises of reliable utilities are met, and the people of Jammu are not left sweltering and parched in the summer heat.