Power crisis worsen in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar:

For the past one month, Jammu and Kashmir is facing acute power shortages with unscheduled power cuts going up to 18 to 20 hours. Some areas of Jammu and Kashmir receive electricity supply only for about three hours daily that too in intervals ranging between 15 minutes and half an hour.

Even when people are crying for electricity, the Power Development Department officials are asking people to save electricity. The government also continues with the installation of the Smart Meters.  

The growing power crisis has forced people to come out on the roads especially in Jammu asking the government to provide some relief to people. While in Kashmir where the government shows zero tolerance towards protests, most of the resentment is seen on social media with people writing that such power crises have hit Jammu and Kashmir for the first time in 70 years. Since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the government would claim “development activities are taking place in J&K for the first time in 70 years.

National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah confronted the government for leading people to trouble in the month of Ramadan by giving inadequate power supplies. Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president has also criticised the government for the power crises. Omar said the power crises in the Muslim holy month of Ramzan look deliberate. 

Industrial sector in Kashmir has also suffered losses due to power outrage. While as the officials say that additional 207 MW were provided to UT besides Power Development Department allocated 52 Crores to buy Electricity for open markets.

The PDD officials say available generation at present due to low water discharge is around 478 MW against the installed capacity of 1211 MWs in the state sector complicating the problem further. In the central sector power projects run by NHPC like Dul Hasti, Salal, Uri I, and Uri II, power generation at present is 1371 MWs against the total capacity of 2009 MW.

Meanwhile the LG administration has said that

 Government of India has allocated 207MW additional power to UT of J&K. Principal Secretary, to HLG & PDD, Nitishwar Kumar said, the order issued by the Union Ministry of Power will substantially increase the availability of power in J&K.

]]>

, International, ,

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post