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| Follow 8-point programme to reduce power losses | | | Notwithstanding the fact that the revenue from the supply of electricity to the consumers in the domestic and the industrial sector in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a jump from Rs. 702 crores in 2009-2010 to Rs.1100 crores in 2010-11,the losses continue to mount.And during the just ended fiscal year the annual loss in power sector has touched Rs.1300 crores.Against the purchase of power for Rs.2400 crores the revenue touched Rs.1100 crores thereby forcing the state to suffer a loss of Rs.1300 crores a year.If the power purchase and revenue figures are matched one comes to the conclusion that while the revenue keeps on increasing step by step the cost incurred on purchase of power has shown a steady jump.The weight of losses used to be reduced when the central Government agreed to pay Rs.1300 crores anually for meeting the power purchase cost between 2005 and 2008.Why this has been stopped ?Why the state Government has not been able to plead its case as effectively as Ghulam Nabi Azad was when he headed the Government from 2005 and 2008 ?This only the state Government functionaries can explain.Despite the fact that the Government has been spending a lot on purchase of power still the wide gap between the demand and availability keeps people on the tenterhooks,in Jammu region during the summer months,and during the winter months in the Kashmir valley.
Rough estimates say that the daily demand for electricity in the state has touched about 2300 MWs.Against this the total generation is over 1560 MWs.No doubt the power generation potential in Jammu and Kashmir has been found to touch 20,000 MWs by the experts but out of this if the state has been able to generate 1560 MWs it means there are certain constraints.What are they ?First is the limitation imposed by the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.This treaty has imposed rest rictions,rather limits,on the use of water of the Jehlum,Chenab and the Indus for power generation and lift irrigation.Secondly,the state does not have resources to go in for the construction of medium and small hydel power projects.No doubt the central Government has come to the rescue of the state by way of constructing several hydel power projects its hands too are tight when it has found that completing the projects in Jammu and Kashmir is a time consuming exercise.Also,it has found that as a result of lack of storage facilities hydel power projects generate 24 per cent of its optimum capacity.The problem gets compounded when the river discharge falls during the winter months.
There are issues that keep on inflating the extent of losses in the power sector.One is transmission and distribution losses that touch 40 per and above.Second is high rate of unauthorised connections and overdrawing of electricity in domestic and industrial sector when compareed to the agreement they have signed with the PDD.Third is the inability of the PDD officials in clearing power tariff arrears.Here the Chief Minister and the Chief secretary need to intervene so that the arreas of Rs.600 crores with the Giovernment departments are cleared within a week or so.Fourth is that the centre should concede the demand of the state for increase in free share of power from 12 per cent to 25 per cent.Fifth the centre should implement Rangarajan committee recommendation in which the economist has favoured transfer of 390 MW Dhul Hasti power project to the state sector.Sixth is the need for revising the Indus Water Treaty so that Pakistan does not create hurdles whenever a new hydel power project was to be constructed in Jammu and Kashmir.Seventh is that added financial allottment be made yearly for construction of new power projects with emphasis on mini and micro projects.Eigth the centre should compensate the losses,to the tune of Rs.6,000 crores,the state suffers because of the Indus Water Treaty.
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