‘J&K hydropower generation drops by nearly 80 per cent’

Srinagar, Nov 3: With the onset of winters, Hydropower generation in Jammu and Kashmir declines by nearly 80 percent—thus raising a question on supply to consumers during the peak winter season.
An official informed that the hydel power generation from the J&K owned projects was fluctuating between 250-280 Megawatt (MW).
“During the past week, the average power generation from the local generation projects was fluctuating from 250-280 or 270-300 MW,” the official said.
The official further said that the power generation usually declines in winters owing to the low water levels.
However, the official said that the Ministry of Power (MoP) is allocating some electricity from the central pool for J&K every year.
“Furthermore, from December-01 till February-2027, we are getting more 330 MW from the central pool that will compensate for the power demand to some extent during the peak season,” the official said.
Earlier this news agency reported that Kashmir is reeling under power deficiency of nearly 300 MW.
An official had informed that “In Kashmir, the power demand during the third week of September remained around 1350 Megawatts (MW).”
He said, “During the peak hours, we generally had a power demand of 1300-1350 MWs in Kashmir division. However, the power availability was fluctuating between 1000-1150 MWs.”
The official further said that the power supply keeps on fluctuating. “Thus, the power demand and availability also varies from time to time. During that period we enforce grid curtailment.”
As already reported, Jammu and Kashmir imports nearly 84 percent of power from other states even as the Union Territory generates nearly 370 Megawatts (MWs) from its local stations.
The official figures in this regard reveal that the Union Territory was importing nearly 2000 MWs of power from other states and UTs.
Top officials have informed that out of the total power production capacity of 1197 MWs from the Jammu and Kashmir owned plants, the power generation fluctuated between 360-400 MWs.
The official had informed that the region was generating 298 MWs of power from the Baghilhar-1 hydroelectric power project, 49 MWs from other projects of Kashmir division and 20 MWs through the Independent Power Producers in Jammu division.
According to the official figures, The State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC) had recorded a power load of 1170 MWs in Kashmir division and 1130 MWs in Jammu division respectively.
It also said that from the centrally owned hydel projects in Jammu and Kashmir that has a generation capacity of nearly 2200 MWs, the authorities were generating nearly 1100 MWs of power. (KNO)