To address winter electricity demand, the central government has allotted 1,972 MW of additional power to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a power ministry statement, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Union Power Minister R K Singh in New Delhi Wednesday evening in response to rising power demand in UT due to economic growth and increased electrification during the current winter season.
The LG stated in the statement that the present demand of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has reached roughly 2,800 MW, with a deficit of approximately 1,400 MW in the current winter season.
Sinha asked the Union Power Minister to give the UT more authority. Singh informed LG that the Ministry of Power has already allotted 1,500 MW from the central pool to cover J&K’s winter needs.
Furthermore, 472 MW is allotted under the Shakti strategy, for which a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the J&K Power Department is proposed to be concluded by the end of December 2023.
“Overall, 1972 MW of additional allocation has been made by the Central government to take care of the urgent power requirement of the Union Territory”, the statement reads.
It went on to say, “The Minister directed the officers of the Ministry of Power to ensure adequate allocation of Power to the UT of J&K to meet the rising demand”.
Union Power Minister R K Singh evaluated different Ministry of Power programs that are being implemented in the UT through Central Sector Schemes.
The LG requested that extra monies be allocated under RDSS for further upgrading and modernization of the UT’s distribution infrastructure, including the replacement of old conductors, transformers, and poles. Singh encouraged the LG to submit recommendations in this regard and promised him that the proposal for J&K development would be positively considered by the Ministry.
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