Govt assures adequate power supply by May 10
It appears the ordeal of consumer-who are facing the worst ever power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir may end soon as the government has assured the power shortage to be addressed by May 10. In order to meet the increasing electricity demand, the GoI has allocated 207MW additional power to UT of J&K.
This assurance came from Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and also holds the charge of Administrative Secretary, Power Development Department and Managing Director, J&K Power Corporation Limited in a meeting with various business associations of J&K today. Kumar shared that the order issued by the Union Ministry of Power will substantially increase the availability of power in J&K.
Kumar shared the power shortage across the Jammu and Kashmir will be addressed by May 10 and till May 3, the preference will be given to the Kashmir in the wake of last few days of Ramazan leading upto Eid on May 2 or 3.
Meanwhile General Secretary JKEEGA and Convenor Power Employees and Engineers coordination committee Jammu(JKPEECC), Sachin Tickoo who was also present in the meeting has urged the managements of both Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited(JPDCL) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited(KPDCL) official to issue a Public notice about the Power shortage crisis in Print and electronic media as employees are being manhandled at receiving stations and abusive behavior is being reported due to curtailments.
The power demand across the Union Territory has shot up due to the early arrival of summer in the rest of the country leading to the highest ever power demand.
The Jammu and Kashmir is facing the worst ever power crisis, as the government is only able to make available of around 50% of the requirement of power as against requirement of 1300 MW only 600 to 700 MW is being available to Jammu region while 1000 to 900 MW against 1700 MW, requirement of power in Kashmir region. At present Jammu region is facing scorching heat and is worst affected due to power shortfall. The frequent power outages have badly affected the water supply system especially in the rural belt of Jammu region, due prolonged 12 to 14 hours power cuts while in rural areas it is worse.
One of the key reasons for the present power crisis is the immediate spike in short term electricity rates. The prices at power exchanges shot up to Rs.20 per unit; however the regulator had fixed the cap at Rs.12 per unit. But earlier J&K was getting power at almost half the price around Rs.5 to 6 per unit. Now the states that can afford are buying at Rs.12 per unit and J&K with constrained financial resources is reluctant to purchase power at exorbitant rates, resulting in demand supply mismatch.
Also the reduced thermal power generation coupled with sub-optimal generation of hydro power due to reduced discharge because of less rains has resulted in deficient power availability leading to unscheduled and prolonged power cuts.
