Power Pangs Unbridled cuts, frequent tripping of lines turn pernicious for Jammuites

With authorities struggling to find a tangible solution to deal with the prevailing electricity crisis, unbridled power cuts and frequent tripping of transmission lines amid soaring temperature have turned pernicious for Jammuites, especially elderly persons and young children, suffering from various ailments.

The excruciating situation across Jammu region also exposed the poor contingency plans of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) and its preparedness to meet the demand of power supply during the peak summer season.

Sources said that the government was reluctant to purchase electricity from outside Jammu and Kashmir at exorbitant rates against the backdrop of a whopping annual revenue loss of over Rs.3,400 crore in the power sector.

“Moreover, several shortages of coal have also triggered power outages in many states and UTs including J&K. Thermal plants across the country have been grappling with coal shortage and early onset of summer due to climate change. In Jammu and Kashmir, the peak demand of electricity was in the month of May 2021 but this time electricity demand increased manifold in March itself due to intense heat wave as March 2022 was the hottest March in India’s 122 year old recorded weather history,” sources said.

Sources said that the average electricity demand of Jammu and Kashmir is 2,400 MW while the UT administration claims to have been supplying 2,061 MW, registering a shortfall of 339 MW.

“Apart from shortage of coal at thermal plants, Jammu and Kashmir has experienced less rainfall in the month of March that also aggravated the situation,” sources said, adding “We expect an improvement in power scenario by next week”.

Pertinently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while addressing a function here last month had said, “We are purchasing electricity for Rs.6,000 crore but only getting a revenue of Rs.2,600 crore. We are suffering a loss of Rs.3400 crore annually”.

Meanwhile, unbridled power cuts have badly affected the industrial sector and business houses across Jammu and Kashmir. The people are also forced to hold mid-night protests against the PDD as a series of outages especially during night hours have disturbed their sleeping habits. Opposition and traders have also slammed the BJP and the PDD for subjecting the citizens to umpteen hardships.

Giving vent to their anger, netizens questioned the preparedness of the UT administration and the JKPDD to meet the demand of power supply in the next few weeks.

“It’s been two days I have come home and in these two days I have only seen inverter & generators working. So many power cuts are happening in Jammu,” a netizen tweeted.

Another netizen while referring to the recent installation of solar power system in village Palli tweeted, “Given the power cuts in #Jammu better to shift to Palli village”.

“Why is there so much power crisis this year in Jammu? I am 29 & never in my entire life have seen so much power cuts in Jammu. And there is nothing to explain & make JKPDD accountable,” another man tweeted.
According to Jal Shakti Department (PHE) officials, water crisis in several parts of Jammu region would also deepen due to failure of authorities to ensure power electricity supply to filtration plants.

Several attempts to contact Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (JPDCL) turned futile as no senior officials responded to repeated phone calls.