Power crisis set to continue in Valley

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 21

People in Kashmir will have to bear winter power crisis again as the functioning of three vital grid stations — Alasteng, Budgam, and Delina — aimed to increase the power import capacity by 512 MW, will get delayed to next year.

Due to November 7 snowfall, multiple towers connecting the 256-MW Alasteng grid with Kashmir’s power network have suffered damage, resulting into further delay in its being operational.

Similarly, the completion of Budgam and Delina stations in Baramulla grid stations might take time, officials said.

“The deadline for completion of the Alasteng grid was December 2019. It may slip by one and half month due to multiple tower failure in the recent snowfall,” said a senior officer in the Power Development department (PDD).

He said work on three towers stringing of conductors of the Alasteng grid was pending in the Badergund hills in Ganderbal, which were covered by snow since November 7.

Chief Engineer, Systems and Operations, Aijaz Ahmad Dar, said, “Our engineers are working very hard to meet the December deadline for the Alasteng grid station. The recent snowfall has put spanner in its completion.”