Power Generation in Jammu Kashmir Falls by 45 Per Cent as Water Levels Drop

SRINAGAR: With the onset of winter, local hydro power generation has dipped by nearly 45 per cent. Top officials say that hydel power generation from local plants has reduced by nearly 500 Megawatts (MW).

The official said, “As of now, on average, we are generating nearly 500-600 MW of power. From the Baglihar power project, we are on average generating nearly 300 MW. This, too, depends on the functioning of machines.”

“During the peak season, we were generating over 1100 MW of power from the total generation capacity of 1197.4 MW of Jammu and Kashmir power plants,” the official said.

It also said, “Due to the reduced water levels, some of the small power projects in Kashmir were usually not generating any power in the month of October, but this year, due to the late monsoon in Jammu and Kashmir, they are doing very well in comparison to the previous years.”

The official further informed that there were additional 800 MW allocated from the Centre. “From this year, we have 1300 MW from the central pool. We have started banking with other states.”

Pertinently, till the third week of February, an official had said that Jammu and Kashmir was relying on more than 85 per cent of coal and solar power amid an acute deficit of hydro power generation.

Officials of the PDD department had claimed that local hydro power generation from the local power plants had reduced by nearly 90 per cent.

An official had informed that “At present, Jammu and Kashmir is 85-90 per cent dependent on coal and solar energy that is being procured from other states because as of now we don’t have local power generation.”

“In winter, the local hydro power generation of Jammu and Kashmir power plants has reduced by almost 90 percent and in order to cater for the requisite power demand, we need to have base power availability that we procure from outside states. The energy is coal-based energy,” the official had said. (KNO)