Srinagar: Amid the installation of smart meters and relentless complaints of persistent power cuts across the Valley, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) is gearing up to release its winter curtailment schedule by October 14, 2023.
The decision to unveil a power curtailment schedule comes at a time when erratic power supply has already taken a significant toll on consumers, affecting both domestic and commercial users, including industrialists who are reporting huge losses due to inadequate electricity supply.
This development also follows a massive smart meter installation drive that spanned across Srinagar and other areas, which was met with public protests over hefty electricity bills in the region.
More Read
Official sources have confirmed that the power curtailment schedule has not yet been made public, but it is expected to be released by Saturday.
The authorities have also claimed to have “procured additional electricity to meet the escalating power demand.”
Previously, the administration under the Lieutenant Governor’s purview claimed to have “purchased 400 Megawatts of electricity from Uttar Pradesh and the Central governments to alleviate the power shortage situation.”
Kashmir has the potential to produce 20,000 megawatts (MW) of hydropower, which can become a major driving force for its economic growth, but it currently produces a mere 3,263 MW.
Of the current 3,263 MW hydropower generation capacity, the NHPC generates 2,009 MW from these projects but shares only 13% of that with Kashmir, which has to purchase electricity at higher prices from India’s northern grid to meet its requirement.
In the absence of an elected government in Kashmir after the abrogation of the region’s special constitutional status on August 5, 2019, Governmnet of India signed agreements — so-called MoUs — to hand over another five power projects to the NHPC.
