news details |
|
|
| Deficit highest in northern India | | J&K’s power deficit hovering over 40 percent | |
Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 23: Apart from 67 percent transmission and distribution losses and inability to pay pending power bills worth crores to utilities supplying power, Jammu and Kashmir government has earned another distinction of being the only state in Northern India with highest power deficit.
Jammu and Kashmir Power development Department (JKPDD) has been unable to meet power requirements of the consumers despite billing them heavily. Official records, copies of which are with Early Times, maintain that state has consistently faced a deficit of 25 percent between the requirement and availability of power supply from October 2010 to December 2010.
This is far-higher then all other Northern states including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana whose power requirements are far higher than Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, none of these states claim of generating power more than what Jammu and Kashmir government and power utilities claim here.
More importantly, J&K’s power deficit is 24 times higher than Himachal Pradesh and eight times higher than Punjab. Both are neighbours of Jammu and Kashmir. In terms of population and power needs, state’s power deficit is almost double the power deficit of Uttar Pradesh whose power needs are five times more than those of J&K.
Records confirm that J&K has always failed to meet peak power demand. Moreover, the deficit between Peak demand and Peak met has been increasing with each passing month. Comparing Peak demand and Peak met during the last three months of year 2010 it is found that in the month of October, J&K’s peak demand was 2200 megawatt and it could meet only 1466 megawatt of this demand, thereby leaving a deficit of 33.4 percent.
In November 2010, J&K’s power demand reached 2250 megawatts. J&K met 1461 megawatts of this demand, leaving the deficit at 35 percent. Then in December 2010, J&K’s peak demand went to 2369 MW. Despite claiming of having improved power generation scenario, state met 1525 MW of its required demand leaving a deficit of 35.6 percent. The data reveals how the state’s power deficit has increased over the years.
Records affirm that in the month of October-November 2010, in spite of surplus power available in the grid, J&K preferred not to utilize surplus power to mitigate its shortage. More importantly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is heading the Power ministry and questioning objectivity of almost every other news report which unveils the reality of J&K’s developmental claims, must note that state despite having Baghliar Hydroelectric Project in its so-called possession is likely to face severe power crisis in the years ahead.
While the demand for power supply is increasing, state’s ability both to purchase and then meet the power requirements of its consumers is thinning. Records further maintain that while J&K’s power deficit is presently hovering around 40.4 percent, it likely to increase in the months to come. Besides, as on January 31, 2011 the outstanding reactive energy charges against J&K are to the tune of Rs 6047.60483 Lakh including interest of Rs. 3944.33857 Lakh due to late payment of reactive charges upto March 31, 2010.
In addition to outstanding during current financial year, there are also outstanding reactive energy charges of Rs. 5495.96327 Lakh against JKPDD upto year 2009-10.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
