JAMMU, May 17: With the hot weather conditions on rise in Jammu, the power crisis has begun in the winter capital and other major towns like, Kathua and Samba, as the water discharge in Chenab and other major rivers has gone down, affecting power generation in the hydro-electric power projects, forcing the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to procure additional electricity supply from the Centre.
The sudden breakdown in the power supply in Jammu and adjoining towns, was experienced last night for about 4-5 hours, forcing general consumers to pass sleepless night. Though the shutdown from various power stations was imposed in systematic manner, to cover up the shortfall in the supply from the source (power project) , yet public had to face the heat of the impact, following the gradual fall in the water discharge in Chenab and other rivers.
Official sources said that power shutdown commenced in various localities of Jammu and other towns and villages at around 11 pm on Saturday. This process continued up to around 4.30 am to 5 am on Sunday. Sources further said that against the capacity of 480 MW of Bagliar –II over river Chenab, the generation capacity of the project reduced to nearly 130-150 MW last night, sounding the ‘alarm bells’ for the power distribution wing of the PDD in Jammu region.
Taking preventive measures, the authorities directed various stations to restrict nearly 500 MW of power and the process of undeclared power curtailment started till morning. Though there was no much improvement in the water discharge in the river even today, the curtailment is also expected for a couple of days in the region.
This is the first occasion during this summer till now that the people in Jammu felt the power crisis. The City has experienced about 3 degrees rise in temperature since yesterday. Jammu recorded a day temperature of 40.0 degrees Celsius on Sunday as compared to 37.1 deg C on Saturday. The night temperature has also experienced about 2 degrees increase. With the further rise in temperature during next few weeks, the power crisis is expected to deepen in Jammu region.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL), Gurpal Singh said in a post on X, “Lower discharge in rivers reduced power generation, affecting power demand and causing outages in many Jammu areas last night. Efforts are being made to procure power to tide over the crisis. Consumers are requested to use power judiciously. Inconvenience regretted.”
MD JKPDCL, when contacted told the Excelsior that due to sudden fall in the power generation in Bagliar Power Project over river Chenab in Ramban last night, the preventive measures had to be taken. Following instructions from the Central Grid, the curtailment was enforced in various areas. It was told that due to reduction in the water discharge in the river, there has been sharp decline in the power generation. There after, the curtailment was started.
Gurpal disclosed that the peak demand of power in Jammu is about 1400 MW and against that 1100 to 1150 MW is being received and even more sometimes. “We tried to purchase additional power to make up for the shortfall but could not succeed yesterday. Some arrangement is being made to procure power from the central pool. Though power procurement at this time is costlier but the PDD has made tie–up with a company to procure additional power. We hope that situation will improve with in a day or two,” the MD added.
Chief Engineer (Procurement), JPDCL/PDD, Jammu, Arshad Reshi when contacted said that during summer the power demand in Jammu increases and in winters in Kashmir. In Jammu, the peak demand goes even beyond 1400 MW. He said reduction in the water discharge in river Chenab and fall of power generation to nearly one- third at Bagliar Hydel Project was the major reason behind shut down/ power crisis in Jammu during last night. Consumption of power increases in Jammu during these hot summer days due to ACs and over drawal of electricity causes crisis. We were instructed to restrict nearly 500 MW of power as emergency measures. Therefore, the curtailment was imposed last night. Reshi said the situation will improve shortly as additional power is being procured from outside.
