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| J&K unable to improve power scenario, 21.6 percent deficit highest in country | | UP, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab likely to be power surplus | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Feb 15: On March 31, when this financial year would come to a close; Jammu and Kashmir would be the only state in the country after Union Territory Andaman and Nicobar, whose power deficit would be highest.
According to Union Ministry of Power, Jammu and Kashmir has miserably failed to bridge power deficit despite being capable of producing more than 20,000 megawatt of hydroelectric power. This is despite the fact that the department is headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, the two other states in Northern region have managed to bring down power deficit to a large extent.
However, J&K continues to peg behind. Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Daman and Diu, Dadar Nagar Haveli, Goa, Lakshadweep, West Bengal and Sikkim are the states and Union Territories which have managed to tide over the power crisis during the last five years. Uttar Pradesh has reduced the power deficit from 21.6 percent in year 2009-10 to 14.5 percent in 2013-14. Thus, UP has managed to meet the demand of power to large extent.
J&K's neighbouring state Punjab has brought down the power deficit from 13.8 percent to 1.7 percent. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar have also progressed by leaps and bounds during the last five years. Madhya Pradesh has brought down the power deficit from 19 percent in 2009-10 to 0.1 percent in 2013-14; Maharashtra from 18.7 percent to 2 percent in 2013-14 while Bihar has reduced the deficit from 14.4 percent in 2009-10 to 4.4 percent in 2013-14.
Maharashtra has managed to address the power needs of its residents despite the same being highest in the country. Same is the case with Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh yet both the states have managed to supply power efficiently to its citizens. Union Power ministry has said that J&K has miserably failed both to tide over its power crisis as well as make regular payments to the power providers.
Spelling out reasons, the ministry has said that while the other states have accelerated generation capacity, J&K had been unable to do so. It has failed to augment domestic manufacturing capacity of power equipment through joint ventures. The ministry has added that despite J&K being allowed to import coal, state has been unable to meet the shortfall in coal supplies to thermal power stations from indigenous sources.
State has lagged behind in renovation, modernization and life extension of old and inefficient generating units. There has been lack of coordinated operation and maintenance of hydro, thermal, nuclear and gas based power stations to optimally utilize the existing generation capacity. Strengthening of inter-state and inter-regional transmission capacity for optimum utilization of available power is a serious issue.
State has been making efforts but strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution network is still is a distant dream. Promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency and demand side management measures are yet to be started in the state, the report of the Union Ministry for Power maintains. |
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