Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Dec 02 : The Power Development Department (PDD) is facing a ‘shortage of nearly 500 Megawatts (MWs) to meet the actual power demand’ in Kashmir valley— plunging residents facing into extended blackouts.
An official informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that “The actual peak power demand in Kashmir is at least 2400 MWs but the local Discom (Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) this year so far has been able to cater only 1900 MWs.”
The official further said that “On Sunday we were able to cater the season’s highest load at least 1906 Megawatts (MWs). We will be able to cater a maximum of 2000 MWs.”
On asking about the new power curtailment schedule, the official said, “As such there are no plans for any new power curtailment schedule. Our target is to provide a better and uninterrupted power supply.”
He said, “We are expecting some receiving stations for north and south Kashmir, we are hopeful that they will be commissioned soon so that some of the bottlenecks are resolved and we will be in a position to provide better power supply.”
About the unscheduled power cuts, the official added that “The power outages are primarily because of the unauthorised use of power. People mostly in the flat rate areas are not using power judiciously and that is one of the main reasons for the power tripping. “As of now 60 percent of the areas in Kashmir are flat rated.”
Pertinently, in the 3rd week of November, KNO reported that the peak power demand in Kashmir has crossed 1900 Megawatts mark while the power generation from local plants has reduced by nearly 75 percent.
Officials had informed that there was a peak power load of 1925 MWs in the Kashmir division. “However, there was an average power load of 1566 MWs during the 24 hours.”
In the last week of October, the official had informed KNO that there were additional 800 MWs allocated from the centre. “From this year, we have 1300 MW from the central pool. We have started banking with other states.”—(KNO)
