Survey reveals drastic increase in state’s power demand, little supply available
Srinagar: With the assembly elections scheduled to be held by the end of this year-the power crises and the promises in the improvement of the sector is expected to remain the main slogan of the major political players of the state.
The 16th All India Power Survey has projected an increase in power demand of Jammu and Kashmir with the state government still doing little on ground to improve this sector.
According to the reports received by KNS, the demand for the power in the state has been estimated at the tune of 15511 MUs during the year 2008-09 and that the same is expected to touch 4000 MWs that is 19500 MUs by 2020-21.
Much to the surprise of several observers, only 16 percent of the hydro power potential is being exploited. The details informed further that the state has the hydro power potential of 20,000 megawatts of which 16480 has been identified. Out of the identified only 2693 MWs has been exploited so far.
The details available with Kashmir News Service, Jammu and Kashmir gets 761.96 MWs in state sector from 21 power projects, 1889 MWs from the from seven projects under the central sector. The details informed that under the seven central sector projects 690 MWs are being generated from the Salal Hydel Project, 480 MWs from Uri-I, 390 MWs from Dulhasti,120 MWs from Sewa-II, 45 MWs from Nimo Bazgo , 44 MWs from Chutak and 240 MWs from Uri-II.
The installed capacity of 761.96 MWs from the state sector projects include the 450 MWs of Baghlihar phase-I constructed at the cost of rupees 5827 crores by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation which was commissioned on October 10, 2008. the project is located at Chenab Basin at Ramban.
Though the state government claims to have done a lot in exploring state’s power potential, contrary appears on the ground. The survey done in the recent past maintained that through Chinab River only more than 11,283 MWs of power can be generated- enough for the state and even can be exported- making the state self reliant. River Jehlum has the capacity to generate more than 3084 MWs of power. From Indus we can have 1608 MWs generated and from Ravi- the estimated power generated is 500 MWs.
With generation from own hydroelectric projects showing no signs of improvement and State’s dependence on Central power supply increasing, Power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to worsen in the days ahead.
Of State’s effective installed capacity of 956 megawatts; Jammu and Kashmir is getting just 146 megawatts of power from Baglihar Hydroelectric Project that it owns and rest of the 1400 megawatts of power is being purchased from the Centre to meet peak demand of 1800 megawatts. Even after purchasing around 1400 megawatts of power, J&K is facing shortage of around 100 megawatts on an average almost every day. (KNS)