A long standing problem with the State is that of power supply. It is faulty; it has low voltage; there is pilferage; it has transmission losses; there is big gap between supply and demand; the transformers are not repaired in time and many more woes which can be counted severally. One more prominent fault is that the transmission lines are old and unable to bear the load. As such there is regular power failure. At times it is said that owing to very big gap between supply and demand, power cannot be made available for several hours and hence power cuts have to be imposed. This all is there despite the fact that our State has plenty of water resource and can produce electricity so as to be self sufficient. However that can happen when we have funds and adequate technical manpower at our disposal.
It has been the attempt of the State Government to establish connection with the Northern Power Grid so that we are able to overcome our power shortage partly if not in full. Among several measures that the Government has been taking to improve power supply to the state, one is that of setting up 400 KV Sub-station at Samba. But this station has remained unused for many months now. The reason for it being dysfunctional is that there was a dispute between the Power Grid Corporation of India authorities and the State Government. The basis of the dispute was about the 220 KV transmission lines that would transmit power from Samba Sub-station. We are pleased to know that an understanding on the issue has developed. It is reliably learnt that Standing Committee on Power System Planning, the apex organization of the Union Ministry of Power, has discussed power position in the Northern Region including Jammu and Kashmir. The Chairman of the Standing Committee has directed the Jammu and Kashmir PDD to submit within 15 days the time-line required to lay 220 KV transmission line network from Samba to Burn and from upcoming grid at Wanpooh near Qazigund. Additionally, it is also learnt that connecting Samba grid with Hiranagar by 220 KV line has found weight in the stand taken by the J&K PDD. The J&K has stressed that the Samba Grid should be provided 220 KV connectivity with the Hiranagar Grid by the PGCIL so that some power could be evacuated till the Samba-Burn transmission network is put in place.
But the most significant decision taken by the Committee and one that is of immense benefit to the State is that apart from the existing connectivity with the Northern Grid one more connectivity will be established via Mughal Road. The benefit of second Grid connection will be that it will provide alternate connectivity in case one connection line meets with fault. This connecting line will be far away from the one that is in use at present and as such the two lines will not be liable to be under weather conditions simultaneously. Another benefit of this new connectivity will be that the backward districts of Rajouri and Poonch will be benefited in terms of improved power supply as both of these two districts had been suffering under regular power default.
We appreciate all parties concerned for showing maturity and resolving the dispute amicably. After all the matter pertains to millions of people and the prosperity and development of a large part of the State is at stake.
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