SRINAGAR: For nearly five years, Jammu and Kashmir has been relying on imported power to meet the increased electricity demand. The official documents reveal that Jammu and Kashmir has not been able to increase the internal power generation.
The official documents reveal that “There has also not been an increase in internal generation in Jammu and Kashmir UT for the last 4-5 years, therefore, the increased demand had to be met by importing higher power from the interstate network.”
It also said that the Ministry of Power urged the Jammu and Kashmir to take necessary measures for improvement in transmission and distribution system so that power shortages in Jammu and Kashmir can be avoided and also take measures for resource adequacy minimising dependence on day ahead market and real-time market purchases.
“Jammu and Kashmir representative stated that load restriction and curtailment are being resorted to by DISCOMS and at SLDC level to limit the overdraw from grid,” it reads.
In this regard, the report reveals that “Low voltage related issues of J&K and Ladakh (UT) have been regularly shared by NRLDC with CEA and CTUIL in Grid-India’s quarterly operational feedback report as well.”
“The issue has been continuously raised in NRPC as well as OCC meetings, still the issues of low voltage persist in Jammu and Kashmir especially Kashmir valley,” it reads. Besides, the report further states that power is being imported by Jammu and Kashmir from 400KV Moga-Kishenpur D/C lines and 400KV Jalandhar-Samba D/C lines.
The Ministry of Power for Government of India (GoI) in the report further said that it has been discussed and suggested on numerous occasions earlier to Jammu and Kashmir to plan and expedite commissioning of reactive power devices especially capacitors at lower voltage level to improve the voltage profile in valley area and also avoid large sums payable as reactive energy charges. (KNO)
