Power generation in J&K drops by 60%
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 24: With the fall in the discharge of water in the main rivers here for the past few weeks, there has been nearly 60% drop in the power generation in the several hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, while the power liability of the UT has reached to a whopping Rs 35,175 crores.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that out of the total power generation capacity of the Jammu and Kashmir, about 60-62% fall has been witnessed in the power generation for the last couple of days in the region. The power generation capacity of Baglihar and Salal Hydel Power Projects over river Chenab has been dropped by nearly 50% as the discharge of water in the river has also been reduced.
Sources said that at present J&K is producing nearly 450 MW of power per day out of its total capacity of nearly 1200 MW. Nearly, 900 MW is the total generation capacity of Baglihar power project near Ramban while 300 MW is being received from other projects by J&K as its power share. The discharge of water in the rivers in Kashmir has also dropped considerably. And with this, the generation of electricity in the hydel power projects in Valley has also been badly hit in these winters.
“The total peak demand of power in Jammu is 1100 MW, where as in Kashmir the peak demand of electricity is nearly 1600 MW. It means the total peak demand of power in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir is 2700 MW. About 2100 MW power is purchased from the Central exchange/grid or other sources to meet the shortfall in J&K during peak season,” the sources added.
Referring to the revenue generated from the power and total liability of the J&K UT towards purchase of power from the Centre, the sources said that as on date Rs 35,175 crores is the power liability of J&K.This liability was Rs 16,580 crores during 2020-21, during 2021-22 it increased to Rs 23, 468 crores and reached Rs 31,889 during 2022-23.
The power purchase bill during 2022-23 was Rs 9886 cr, during 2021-22 Rs 9008 cr and Rs 7847 crore during 2020-21. This bill during previous year was around Rs 7500 crore.
The JPDCL realized a revenue worth Rs 2347 crores in Jammu region while KPDCL earned Rs 1867 cr in Kashmir. The total revenue realization in JKUT was Rs 4214 crores. Therefore, Rs 3286 cr was the deficit incurred against the total power bill of the UT. This amount remained as the outstanding of last year as liability, which went on increasing during last 4 years. This year, this outstanding reached up to Rs 35,175 crores.
Managing Director of the JPDCL/JKPCL, Yasin Mohd Choudhary when contacted said that generation capacity of hydel power projects has been dropped by more than 50 per cent with the onset of winters as happens every year. He said as precautionary measures, the department will impose scheduled power curtailment. The day time curtailment schedule has already been enforced.
Yasin said the J&K UT under special scheme will get additional 393 MW of additional power. With some arrangement with UP Power Corporation, JKUT will get some 150 to 200 MW additional power. Moreover, during recent Power Ministers’ conference in Delhi, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is holding power portfolio, projected a demand of 500 MW additional power for J&K to meet the shortfall during winters.
“The power scenario in J&K will be better this winter season as compared to last few years. We have been making arrangements for the purchase of additional power. Presently, the power position is better in both the regions and we are trying our best to make people comfortable during these winters,” Yasin added.
On power liability, the Managing Director said it is not new, the figures of previous years indicate increasing trend. The efforts are being made to minimize the gap by improving revenue realization, reducing power theft and transmission losses. Some reforms in this regard are in progress, he added.
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