Improvement in power supply, but deficit is still 300 MW
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, June 20: Giving respite to people during this scorching hot weather, Power Development Department (PDD) has announced that there will be no power curtailment in Jammu city from June 20 onwards while power cuts in rural and unmetered areas will be restricted below six hours.
According to an official communiqué in this regard, the decision has been taken in view of improvement in power supply situation from Baghlihar and increased power allocation from Government of India.
However, sources said, there is still a shortfall of at least 300 MW power between the demand and supply in Jammu region and hence the rural areas as well as the towns, including all the District headquarters except Jammu, will continue to face shutdowns.
Pertinent to mention that Jammu city was being subjected to shutdowns of around two hours duration per day despite installation of smart meters while in the unmetered rural areas, the curtailment was being enforced for duration of at least six to eight hours in a day.
Chief Engineer PDD, Sandeep Seth told the Excelsior that there would be zero curtailment in Jammu city from June 20 onwards while duration of power shutdowns would be restricted to four hours for the major towns and six hours for the rural areas in the region.
The improvement in power supply situation has been officially attributed to certain recent developments in power sector of Jammu and Kashmir like J&K’s own power generating plant i.e. 900 MW Baglihar HEP, which was generating at a reduced capacity due to low discharge of water in river Chenab, has now picked up and generating power at its full rated capacity.
Further, the power allocation from Government of India has increased by 200 MW from Hydro generating stations located outside J&K from where J&K imports power, due to improved generation in Central Sector hydro generators such as Naptha Jhakri, Koldam and Tehri. Additionally, there has been an improvement in thermal generation also by around 60 MW, leading to higher allocation of power to J&K, read the official communiqué.
However, despite this improvement in power supply, Jammu is still facing a deficit of at least 300 MW. Against the demand of 1400 MW, Jammu is getting a total supply of 1100 MW only thus leading to enforcement of shutdowns and consequent protests by the affected people.
The Government had repeatedly announced that there would be no curtailment in the areas where smart meters were installed, but in Jammu city where 100 percent metering has been completed, people were still being subjected to power shutdown.
Sources explained that by deciding zero curtailment in metered area of Jammu city, the Government has intended to encourage people in getting the smart meters installed in their respective areas also.
Meanwhile, pointing towards subsidized power tariff and advance payment to gencos (power generating companies), PDD spokesperson has appealed the general public to use power judiciously and pay their electricity bills in time enabling JKPDD to ensure smooth power supply to consumers during these peak summer days.
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