Tag: #EnergyPolicy

Mohra Hydroelectric Project: How Asia’s First Powerhouse in Kashmir Became a Forgotten Ruin

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Mohra Hydroelectric Project: How Asia’s First Powerhouse in Kashmir Became a Forgotten Ruin

Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project: How Asia’s Earliest Power Station in Kashmir Slipped Into Silence By: Javid Amin | 25 January 2026 More than a century ago, when large parts of Asia still relied on oil lamps and fireplaces, electric bulbs glowed in Srinagar—powered not by coal or diesel, but by the flowing waters of the Jhelum River. At the heart of this quiet revolution stood the Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project, commissioned in 1905 during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh. It was not merely a power station; it was a…

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Kashmir’s Smart Meter Rollout Sparks Power Bill Shock: Why Households Are Paying More and What It Means for the Valley

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Kashmir’s Smart Meter Rollout Sparks Power Bill Shock: Why Households Are Paying More and What It Means for the Valley

Kashmir’s Smart Meter Push: When Modernisation Meets Public Anger Over Power Bills By: Javid Amin | 22 January 2026 For decades, electricity in Kashmir followed a familiar rhythm—erratic supply, predictable billing, and public frustration that rarely spilled onto the streets. That balance has now been disrupted. Across towns and villages in the Valley, the government’s push to replace traditional electricity connections with smart meters has ignited widespread protests, sharp political reactions, and a growing trust deficit between consumers and power authorities. What was projected as a technological upgrade promising transparency,…

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LoP Sunil Sharma Slams 20% Power Tariff Hike in J&K — Calls It ‘Electoral Fraud’

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LoP Sunil Sharma Slams 20% Power Tariff Hike in J&K — Calls It 'Electoral Fraud'

LoP Sunil Sharma Hits Out at CM Over Proposed 20% Power Tariff Hike in J&K By: Javid Amin | 22 November 2025 In the politically charged region of Jammu & Kashmir, electricity tariffs have become more than just numbers on a power bill — they’re a battleground of convictions, promises, and public trust. The proposal by the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) to impose a 20% surcharge on electricity consumed during peak winter hours has triggered sharp criticism. At the forefront is Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who has…

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Electricity Could Become Costlier in Mornings & Evenings in Kashmir Valley: KPDCL Proposes 20% Surcharge on Peak-Hours Consumption

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Electricity Could Become Costlier in Mornings & Evenings in Kashmir Valley: KPDCL Proposes 20% Surcharge on Peak-Hours Consumption

Kashmir Valley to See 20% Peak-Hour Power Surcharge: KPDCL Submits Proposal to JERC By: Javid Amin | 20 November 2025 What the Proposal Says The Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has submitted to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) a proposal to impose a 20 % surcharge on electricity consumption during defined “peak hours” in the Kashmir Valley. The peak windows proposed are 6:00 AM–10:00 AM (morning) and 6:00 PM–10:00 PM (evening). According to KPDCL, the objective is to manage load, deter excessive use during high-demand intervals, and thereby…

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Electrifying U-Turn: Omar Abdullah’s Prepaid Meter Push Sparks Public Outrage

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Electrifying U-Turn: Omar Abdullah’s Prepaid Meter Push Sparks Public Outrage

Where Has the Free Electricity Promise Gone? By: Javid Amin | 17 October 2025 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government is under fire after announcing a full-scale rollout of prepaid smart electricity meters across Jammu & Kashmir — a move sharply contrasting with his 2024 election promise of providing 200 units of free electricity per month to poor households. The announcement has unleashed a wave of anger and disillusionment, with opposition parties branding it a “betrayal of the poor” and civil society groups accusing the administration of “digitalizing hardship under the…

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