#SRINAGAR: Continuing its pursuit to obtain pending arrears from defaulting consumers, Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) collected a revenue of Rs.6.63 crore on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Corporation’s inspections to check power pilferage breached 1000 mark with penalties imposed to the tune of Rs.7.95 lakh on Thursday.

Elaborating on details, a KPDCL spokesperson today stated that out of 1017 inspections carried out in Kashmir Division, 161 were conducted in Circle I Srinagar, 182 in Circle II Srinagar, 301 in Circle Ganderbal, 147 in Circle Pulwama, 66 in Circle Bijbehara and 160 in Circle Sopore. Around 245 KW load was added across 6 Circles of the Corporation during the drives.

A penalty of Rs.7.95 lakh was imposed across all 19 Electric Divisions on those found hooking wires on bare conductor and bypassing the meters. Meanwhile, 52 Domestic Transformers (DTs) were also reported damaged on Thursday due to overloading, down from 64 reported on Wednesday.

The spokesperson further stated that another 1048 domestic, commercial and industrial connections were also disconnected for non-payment of energy dues which were pending for more than three months. This includes 731 domestic, 266 commercial and 31 industrial consumers.

The spokesman stated that the inspection and disconnection drives against power theft and defaulting consumers respectively will help the Corporation in sticking to the curtailment schedule.

While KPDCL received 52 damaged DTs in its various workshops on Thursday, 61 transformers were also repaired for replacement, to comply with the stipulated timelines fixed by the Government. “As many as 74 transformers are in different stages of repair, 27 others are in ovens at Central Workshop Pampore,” the spokesperson added, while quoting Executive Engineer, CWS, Pampore.

Expressing concern over the repeat damage of repaired transformers, the spokesperson urged the consumers to use power judiciously within their agreed load, failing which the DTs will get damaged again, thus causing inconvenience to genuine consumers. “Cases of repeat damage to repaired transformers has been reported from Central Workshop at Pampore and a few of the divisional-level workshops. This trend will affect replacement timeline fixed by the Government,” the spokesperson warned while advocating strict adherence to load capacity of DTs.

KPDCL advised all domestic, commercial and industrial consumers to pay their pending energy dues or face permanent disconnection. KPDCL collected Rs.6.63 crore as pending energy dues on Thursday from the consumers. With the Corporation going into overdrive, the revenue realization figures are likely to go up further in the coming few weeks.

#SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha along with Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde and Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister  Sudhir Mungantiwar unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Kupwara, today.

In his address, the Lt Governor congratulated the ‘Amhi Punekar’ and 41 Rashtriya Rifles of Indian Army for historic initiative.

He said the statue of Great Shivaji will be a source of inspiration for people and the bravehearts of the army.

Paying homage to the great warrior and founder of Swarajya, the Lt Governor said, Shivaji was a born leader, who scripted a new history of India through his mesmerizing victory against the enemy.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was also fountainhead of high standards of morality, right conduct and respecter of all religions and sects. Youth must follow his ideas and ideals and selflessly serve the poor and weaker sections of society and contribute to nation-building, he added.

By unleashing his military genius and moral force, Shivaji mobilized millions of Indians and achieved sovereignty for Maratha empire. His universal and eternal values continue to be relevant today and guiding us on the path of social equality and peaceful co-existence, the Lt Governor said.

He further called for celebrating the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj festival in Kupwara on 7th of November every year.

Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is an inspiration for every Indian.

Maharashtra has a great tradition of sacrifice and bravery. It is indeed commendable that this statue is being erected at Kupwara in the same year as the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji, he said.

Sudhir Mungantiwar, Cultural Affairs Minister Maharashtra, speaking on the occasion paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He said the unveiling of Shivaji’s statue is the proudest moment of his life.

Major General Girish Kalia, GOC, Vajr Division presented the National Flags handmade by women of Kupwara to the dignitaries.

Earlier, the Lt Governor paid tributes to the  bravehearts of Indian Army and laid wreath at Vajr War Memorial, HQ 28 Infantry Division in Kupwara.

Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister of J&K; Major General Girish Kalia, GOC, Vajr Division; Vivek Gupta,  DIG NKR Range; Ayushi Sudan, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara; Abhayraj Shirole, Founder Amhi Punekar and senior officers of Army, civil and police administration were present at the ceremony.