Kashmir faces nearly 300 MW power shortfall

Srinagar, Oct 17: With the onset of pre-winters, Kashmir is reeling under power deficiency of nearly 300 MWs—thus raising a question on the region’s preparedness for upcoming peak winters.
An official informed that in Kashmir, the power demand nowadays remains around 1350 Megawatts (MW).
He said, “During the peak hours, we generally nowadays have a power demand of 1300-1350 MWs in Kashmir division. However, the power availability is 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.”
Pertinently, earlier this week it was reported that 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.
Previously, this news agency reported that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are likely to witness a power deficiency of 14 percent during the solar peak hours in the month of October.
The Northern Regional Power Committee (NRPC) in this regard had further said that the regions may face power deficiency of nearly 12 percent during the non-solar hours.
The official figures in this regard said that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is likely to face power paucity of 400 MWs against the available power position during the solar peak hours in the month of October.
It also said that during the non-solar peak hours, the regions may face a power shortage of 337 MWs. (KNO)