Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: The Jammu and Kashmir is likely to plunge into power crisis from this midnight with an average shortfall of approximately 1100 MW as the State Government has failed to fulfill the required payment security mechanism for ensuring power availability from the supplying agencies.
Highly placed authoritative sources told the Excelsior that because of non furnishing Letter of Credit (a guarantee for payment) with the Bank in favour of supplying agencies , the availability of Power to J&K from all the sources and local generation will be approximately 800 MW only, with an average shortfall of approximately 1100 MW from 00.00 hrs tonight.
In view of the emerging crisis, sources added that the Commercial and Survey Wing of Power Development Department, J&K has sounded an alert to the higher authorities for further necessary action on priority basis.
According to an intimation to Development Commissioner (Power) PDD, vide number CE/C&S? J/T-27/15558-63, dated 31-07-2019, the regulations stand imposed on JKPDD as per Payment Security Administration document and the availability of Power to J&K from all the sources, including BHEP-I/BHEP-II and local generation will approximately 800 MW with an average shortfall of approximately 1100 MW from tonight.
“Therefore, it is requested to take up the matter with higher authorities on priority for further necessary action,” says the communication, a copy of which has been forwarded to Commissioner/Secretary, JKPDD and others.
While elaborating, sources said that the State Government was required to opening and maintaining of adequate Letter of Credit (LC) as payment Security Mechanism under Power Purchase Agreement by distribution licensees.
This was communicated to the State by the various CPSUs in compliance to the order number 23/22/2019-R&R, dated 28-06-2019 by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
Accordingly, sources added, the office of Chief Engineer, Commercial & Survey Wing, PDD, J&K, vide letter number CE/C&S/J/T-2/1412-13, dated 22-07-2019, communicated the same to the higher authorities along with the amount of the Letter of Credits to be opened in favour of various CPSUs. This was also in compliance to the directions issued by the Commissioner/Secretary, JKPDD during the meeting on the subject matter on July 22, 2019.
Even as the Commissioner Secretary , vide his letter number PDD/II/AC/40/2016, dated 30-07-2019 of the Administration Department, addressed to Secretary Ministry of Power, Government of India, intimated that the department has proposed to open Letter of Credit with the Bank in favour of supplying agencies on quarterly basis and the proposal has been submitted for the approval of competent authorities in the bank and the Government which may take some time, the State is likely to plunge into power crisis from this midnight .
As per the Power availability schedule for August 1, 2019, against the total requirement of more than 1900 MW, the availability of power to J&K from all the sources and local generation will be approximately 800 MW only with an average shortfall of approximately 1100 MW from tonight.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
