J&K facing power shortfall of nearly 600 MW
Major snag at Kishanpur Grid hits supply
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 28: The Jammu and Kashmir is facing a power shortfall of over 600 MW, as with the severe hot weather conditions, the power generation has reduced, further deepening the power crisis, specially in Jammu region, which is facing power curtailment from 4 to 7 hours a day and even more in rural areas, leaving the hapless public to pass sleepless nights.
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Official sources said that with the major damage to 220 KV Salal Hydel Project-Kishnapur Grid power line, and subsequent blast in one of the transformers at the Kishanpur Grid Station on Wednesday afternoon, the power supply in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, Samba and some parts of Punjab including Moga remained affected for more than six hours. The power supply also badly affected the water supply position in the region.
Chief Engineer, JPDCL/PDD, Jammu, Arshad Reshi said that due to major snag at Kishanpur Grid Station, the power supply to Buren and Gladini Grid Stations at Bhalwal and Narwal, in Jammu was also hit. He said since the Kishanpur Grid Station is one of the largest power stations in North India, with its shut down, the power supply to parts of Punjab including Moga and its adjoining Tehsils and Districts was also hit on Wednesday.
Reshi said Salal Hydroelectric Power Project over river Chenab in Reasi district of Jammu region is the major source of power supply to the Kishannpur Grid Station. After the snag at Northern Grid (K-pur) the Salal-Kishanpur 220 KV line also experienced shutdown for about 5-6 hours. He said the power supply which witnessed breakdown at around 2.30 pm could be restored after 9 pm. He said the power now stands restored fully in all the areas including Rajouri and Poonch besides Jammu, Kathua and other districts. However, the power curtailment will be continued in the region to make up the existing shortfall, he added.
Replying to a question, the Chief Engineer said that power generation in Bagliar and Salal Hydel Projects has gone down during these days due to fall in the water discharge. With the melting of snow on the higher reaches and glaciers, the water level in the river is expected to increase and it will improve the power generation as well in the coming days. It will provide some relief to the general public, he added.
When asked why PDD is avoiding to purchase power to overcome the shortfall, the Chief Engineer said the department is purchasing some power from the private players, but it is very costly affair.
“We are purchasing additional power at the rate of Rs 10 to 12 per unit and selling at the rate of Rs 4.50 in J&K , which is very costly affair. No company can afford such a business of severe loss. But even then, the Govt is purchasing some power,” Reshi claimed.
He said the curtailment is being enforced in rotation in the urban areas for about three hours and about four to five hours in rural areas to make up the shortfall of about 300 MW power in the region. He assured that some improvement will be witnessed in coming days.
Sources in the PDD, however, said that during peak summer days, the electricity demand in Jammu has increased to about 1500 MW while in Kashmir Division it is over 1600 to 1700 MW. There is power shortfall of over 500 to 600 MW while the component of additional power purchase is very less, because, the company is not prepared to bear the loss by purchasing power at higher rate and sell it at the rate of Rs 4.50 per unit. Even the areas where Smart meters have been installed are not exempted from the power curtailment.
“Many rural areas of Jammu region are experiencing 6-7 hours of power curtailment a day while the urban/city areas about 4 hours. This has also affected the water supply in many areas during these hot summer days,” the sources added.
Referring to the installment of Smart meters in J&K, the sources said that its pace is very slow, specially in Kashmir. Hardly five lakh Smart meters have been installed so far there that too, in the cities and towns. Over 14 lakh such meters are yet to be installed in Kashmir. Even in Jammu region, over 13 lakh Smart meters are yet to be installed. A private company from outside the J&K, has been given the contract for installation of smart meters. Due to slow pace of work, there are reports of major power leakages/pilferage where old system is still existing. When the leakage is plugged properly after installation of smart meters in entire J&K UT, the losses may come down and the gap will also be narrowed down, the sources added.
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