In bitter winter, Kashmir battles power pangs

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 18

With mercury plunging to record-low levels in Kashmir, the erratic supply of electricity has become a cause of distress with the gap widening between its supply and demand.

The Kashmir valley, where the winter usually lasts for four months, had an early face-off with freezing temperatures this year due to twin spells of snowfall in early November which resulted in a cold wave enveloping the region.

The winter’s coldest phase is yet to begin, but the minimum temperatures have already dropped to record low levels. In Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, the overnight temperature was recorded at a low of -4.6° Celsius while the mercury dropped more than seven degrees below the freezing point in the tourist resorts of Pahalgam and Gulmarg.

In the midst of an unusually cold start to the winter, the region is also battling frequent power cuts. The Valley has 9.65 lakh electricity consumers and a load of 1,332 MWs is provided through 242 receiving stations, an official of the Power Development Department said.

During the peak hours, however, as residents switch on heating and cooking appliances, the demand for electricity grows up to 2,200 MWs, leading to routine outages.

The official said the existing infrastructure of grids at 220KVs had the capacity to handle only 1,250 MWs.

A partial respite is expected during the coming months with the commissioning of two new grid stations, including the 320 MW Alasteng station, which will significantly improve supply of electricity in the region which is currently facing 800 MWs deficit in supply.

The PDD has also been instructed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to publicise the curtailment schedules and also launch “intense drives” to check power thefts.

The instructions have also been issued to the Deputy Commissioners of all districts of the Kashmir valley to immediately ban sale, purchase and transportation of crude boilers and “other heating appliances” in an effort to ease the demand of electricity during peak hours.

Frequent outages

• The Valley has 9.65 lakh electricity consumers and a load of 1,332 MWs is provided through 242 receiving stations
• During peak hours, however, residents switch on heating appliances, and the demand for electricity grows up to 2,200 MWs, leading to routine outages
• The Valley had an early face-off with freezing temperatures this year due to twin spells of snowfall in early November