Srinagar- The government of India on Wednesday allocated 207 MW additional Power to Jammu and Kashmir in order to meet the increasing electricity demand in the Union Territory.
LG’s Principal Secretary, Nitishwar Kumar said that the order issued by the Union Ministry of Power will substantially increase the availability of power in J&K.
Pertinently, the Union Government has allocated additional power from the unallocated quota of Central Generating Stations of Northern Region Pool to Jammu & Kashmir.
“The order in this regard will come into the effect from midnight and the UT is expected to receive the additional supply by tomorrow,” an official spokesperson said Wednesday.
He said that the J&K’s Power Development Department is also making dedicated efforts on all fronts to meet the rising demand for the power supply in the UT, exploring practical and viable solutions to address the needs of the end consumers.
According to the spokesperson, it was informed that, between 1st to 25th April, the Power Development Department allocated additional Rs.52 Crore to purchase power from the open market, also known as Energy Exchange, however, due to increased number of bidding, electricity worth only Rs.10.41 Crore could only be supplied to the Union Territory of J&K.
He said that owing to the early onset of summer and an unprecedented heatwave in the month of March and April, experienced for the first time in the last 122 years and 50 years respectively, the Power Development Department took the decision to place maximum bid at the energy exchange to meet the shortfall amidst the surging power demand. Eventually, the additional allocation was made in March to ensure maximum power supply.
“The Power Development Department is also ensuring optimal output from available power sources. However, it is pertinent to mention that thermal plants account for 70% of the country’s power generation capacity. Thermal and Hydropower contribute 50%-50% to meeting the demand of the Union Territory of J&K. Hydropower plants operate at reduced capacity during the month of March and April due to the accumulation of snow which starts melting only in the month of May,” the spokesperson said.
In April 2021, he said, the power demand for Jammu division was 830 MW per day. The demand has increased to 900 MW this year. He said that the Power Development Department is using all its resources including purchases from the Energy Exchange to ensure 770 MW, which is being supplied to the people of Jammu division.
“Between, 1st to 26th April of this year, only 6.17% less power units have been supplied in comparison to the same period in 2021. The PDD officials are bidding at the Energy Exchange on an hourly basis to ensure that even this gap is bridged,” he added.
In the light of the increasing power demand in Jammu and Kashmir Division, the spokesperson said that Kumar is reviewing the position of power availability on an hourly basis.
He said that a meeting was also held earlier today in which senior officials of PDD and Engineers were present. It was noted that as compared to April 2021, energy consumption this year for the same period has increased.
“After detailed deliberations in the meeting, Nitishwar Kumar directed the deployment of middle management level officers at grid stations to monitor the power schedule. It was advised that the area-wise curtailment schedule be communicated to the public using all available platforms,” the spokesperson added.
Cabinet Approves 540MW Kwar Power Project
Earlier the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to invest Rs 4,526.12 crore to construct 540 MW Kwar hydroelectric project in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Cabinet has approved construction of 540 Megawatt Kwar Hydro Electric project at a cost of Rs 4,526.12 crore,” Union Minister Anurag Thakur said in a briefing on the cabinet decisions.
It was informed that the project will generate 1,975.54 million units of electricity in a 90 per cent dependable year. It will be commissioned in 54 months.
It will provide direct and indirect employment to about 2,700 persons.
The project will come up on river Chenab in the Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. It will be implemented by Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd.
Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd is a Joint Venture Company between NHPC (51 per cent) and JKSPDC (49 per cent), formed at the initiative of the Jammu & Kashmir government and the Centre to harness the vast hydro potential of river Chenab. The company was incorporated on June 13, 2011.
The company has been entrusted with the construction of hydropower projects on a build, own, operate and maintain (BOOM) basis with an aggregate installed capacity of 3,094 MW.
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