JK Heading towards worst power crisis, Amid unscheduled power cuts, PDD to launch drive against pilferage

Jammu and Kashmir is heading towards worst power crisis in coming days as the local electricity generation in the state has declined by 70 percent.
Sources said the Power Development Department is presently buying 500 MW power from the neighboring states to tide over the deficit. “However, this is not sufficient to meet the requirements on a daily basis”, reliable sources in the PDD informed.

As per the figures available with Kashmir Post, JK requires 2600 MW of power on a daily basis, but due to steep decline in power generation, the PDD at present is able to supply a mere 2030 MW of power in the state. “Due to the obtaining situation, the demand-supply gap has woefully gone up to 570 MW on daily basis” sources said adding “This gap is most likely to widen in the coming days as the power generation will further decline during peak winters.”
They said that the power demand in Kashmir region has increased considerably mainly in view of the winters.
As per figures, Jammu requires 1150 MW of power on a daily basis, while the PDD is in a position to supply only 850 MW in the region.

Similarly, Kashmir requires 1450 MW of power on daily basis, while as a mere 1180 MW of power is supplied in the valley which makes the shortfall at 270 MW. “This demand-supply gap also keeps varying by 40 to 50 MW on a daily basis depending upon the demand of a particular area during peak hours,” sources informed.
“The demand in the valley will further witness sharp rise with peaking winters,” they said, while adding, “The situation is most likely to worsen, as the power generation, which at present has gone down by 70%, is most likely to go down further as the winter season peaks”.
Chief Engineer, Commercial and Survey, (PDD) Khurshid Ahmed when contacted admitted that due to sharp decline in power generation, JK is buying power from the neighboring states to overcome the shortfall.
“At present we are buying 400 to 500 MW of power from neighboring states to meet the power demands of the state,” Khurshid said, while adding, “The power however, as per the agreement, will be returned to the states from whom we are getting power at present once the generation improves.”
Meanwhile, the grim scenario has forced the PDD to resort to power curtailments ranging between 8 to 9 hours across the state depending upon the load of the area.
The non-metered areas are facing more frequent power curtailments as compared to metered areas.

Amid unscheduled power cuts, the Power Development Department (PDD) on Friday said it will launch a drive in city centre areas to check power theft.
“PDD after a brief pause has recommenced inspection drives throughout Kashmir starting with metered areas of Baghat, Peerbagh, Brein Nishat, Raj Bagh and Jawahar Nagar. It is very startling to notice power thefts even in these areas where theft of power was earlier curbed to lowest ebb by the department’s repeated pursuance and public cooperation. Hefty fines have been imposed on the offenders,” Electric Maintenance & RE wing, PDD Kashmir said in a statement.

“In its endeavor to provide reliable power supply, devoid of any forced cut, cooperation of the general public is solicited by the department. The consumers are hereby requested to desist from indulging in any illegal use of electricity, be it in terms of power theft (hooking/meter tampering) or use of loads in excess of their registered loads, else, the department shall be constrained to take action under J&K Electricity Act. Pertinent to mention that power theft not only results in substantial revenue loss to the Government Exchequer, but also increases the number of trippings / forced cuts which is a cause of major inconvenience to the consumers,” the statement added.

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