Industrial sector to face 3 hrs. daily cuts
The beginning of summer has already started taking its toll on the power scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, as the Power Development Department (PDD) has started enforcing power cuts, especially in the industrial sector of the Jammu region. As the temperatures are expected to rise in the coming days, the power crisis is likely to deepen further.
As per sources if the situation does not improve in the coming days, power cuts in residential areas are likely to increase further. This time the power cut has become a compulsion in the union territory even during Navratri and Ramzan. There is a demand of 3100 MW of electricity every day in Jammu and Kashmir. On the contrary, only 1937 MW could be made available in the state the other day. This also includes 400 MW of power overdrawn from the northern grid. The power department has issued orders for three-hour power cuts in industrial areas. To deal with the crisis, the government has issued orders for three-hour power cuts in the industrial areas of the UT. In Jammu, there will be power cuts in industrial areas from 6 am to 9 am, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur from 5 pm to 8 pm. However, the Northern Grid is continuously giving instructions to Jammu and Kashmir to follow grid discipline to get electricity.
The power department has issued instructions to ensure that the Kashmir region consumes less than 1150 MW of power. Higher officials have directed the Jammu division to ensure consumption is below 870 MW and Kashmir below 1150 MW. It is learnt that the way the temperature has increased rapidly in the last few days, due to this the J&K has overdrawn 400 MW more power from the northern grid 23 times in the last few days.
On Thursday the power over draw also crossed 465 MW. According to official sources, 785 MW in Jammu and 1152 MW in Kashmir has been recorded on Thursday morning.
The department has started reducing the industrial load during peak hours. In relation to the need for more power, it has also been asked to get power from Inter State Generating Stations or Gas Plants. After this directive, the Jammu and Kashmir Urja Vikas Nigam (Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation) has started controlling the power demand. Under this, taking the first action, the industrial load has been reduced during peak hours.
Sandeep Seth, Chief Engineer (Jammu Division) of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation has released the cut-off schedule. In this, power cut has been started in Jammu from 6 am to 9 am and in industrial areas of Kathua, Samba and Udhampur from 5 pm to 8 pm. Under the order, these instructions have been issued to avoid overdrawing of electricity from the northern grid.
