Srinagar, Oct 20 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir administration has addressed the significant power deficit in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir this year, citing a substantial decrease in water levels in rivers and streams as the primary cause.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the Power Development Department (PDD) continues to supply 2200 MWs of power, surpassing the availability of 1400 MWs, with the remaining 700 MWs being procured through power exchange.
At a press conference held at Rajbhawan here, Principal Secretary PDD, H. Rajesh Prasad, revealed the concerning power situation. He explained that this year has witnessed a dramatic reduction in the water levels of rivers and streams in J&K, resulting in a considerable drop in local power generation.
"In June and July, our own generation typically ranged from 1000 MWs to 1050 MWs. However, in September, power generation decreased to 750 MWs, and in October, it dropped significantly to just 250 MWs," Prasad said.
Despite these challenges, the Power department continues to supply power at a subsidized rate per unit to consumers, he said.
Regarding the curtailment in metered and non-metered areas, the Secretary PDD reassured the public that an additional power quota for peak winter demand has been initiated. "We will utilize this additional power quota during the winter months when the demand peaks," he explained. Furthermore, he outlined plans to reduce Transmission and Distribution losses to 20 percent over the next three to five years, highlighting ongoing system augmentation efforts to achieve this goal. (KNS)