NHPC pulled up for Doda power crisis

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 13

The state administration finally woke up from deep slumber and pulled up the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for the power crisis in Doda and Kishtwar districts for the past one week.

The Tribune raised the issue in these columns and exposed the indifferent attitude of the administration towards this area.

Adviser Kewal Kumar Sharma, who holds the charge of the power development department, has pulled upNHPC and directed the officials to restore the 132-kV transmission line to the region.

Talking to The Tribune, Sharma said a line maintained by the NHPC was down and they couldn’t restore it. “The repair work is on at all sites. We have been reviewing it and are fully engaged with power restoration to Doda and Kishtwar. A chief engineer has also been deputed to the area to monitor the work,” the Adviser said.

Snow in the twin districts on February 7 damaged nine towers of the 132-kv transmission line supplying electricity to the area. Since then the districts are without power.

The Adviser said: “The 132-kV transmission line up to Doda is expected to be repaired by Wednesday evening. The Thathri-Kishtwar section is likely to be restored by Saturday followed by the Doda-Thathri sectionby February 22.”

“Meanwhile, the 33-kV line to Kishtwar will also be restored by Saturday.”

Need for alternative feeding line 

• Successive state governments have failed to set up an alternative transmission line to Doda and Kishtwar districts
• The power department has to rely solely on NHPC for  supply through the 132-kV line as the state doesn’t have one of its own

Districts can generate 16,000 MW

• The state and NHPC earn crores from power generation in Doda and Kishtwar districts 
• The state generates 900 MW from the Baghliar power project and NHPC generates 390 MW from Dul Hasti
• Of 20,000 MW potential in the state, the Chenab region alone has the capacity of generating 16,000 MW