Govt dismisses apprehensions on “switch off”

JAMMU: The power corporations of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday called the apprehensions expressed by some, regarding the voluntary switch off of lights by people between 9.00 pm to 9.09 pm on the 5th of April on Prime Minister’s appeal, as “misplaced”.
The government sought to assuage fears of electricity grid instability due to simultaneous switching on and off of most lights in the country, saying adequate protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand without causing any damage to appliances.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked citizens to switch off lights for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday and light candles and torches to "challenge the darkness of the coronavirus crisis that has forced a three-week country-wide lockdown.
According to an official communiqué issued from the offices of Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) and Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL), the apprehensions that the switch off of lights may cause instability in the grid and fluctuation in voltage which may harm the electrical appliances are misplaced.
The officials of power corporations said that the Indian electricity grid is robust and stable and adequate arrangements and protocols are in place to handle the variation in demand, the communiqué read.
The officials of the corporations urged people to note that the appeal of the PM is to simply switch off the lights in their homes from 9.00 pm to 9.09 pm on the 5th of April.
“There is no roll call to switch off either street lights or appliances like computers, TVs, Fans, Refrigerators and ACs in their homes. Only lights should be switched off,” the official communiqué said.
It was also clarified that the lights in hospitals and all other essential services like public utilities, municipal services, offices, police stations, manufacturing facilities, etc. will remain on.
The call given PM is to just switch off lights in residences, the officials said.
All local bodies have been advised to keep the street lights on for public safety.

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