Even as Kashmir Valley continues to reel under unscheduled power cuts, the J&K administration on Tuesday announced uninterrupted electricity supply for Jammu.
In a statement, the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (JKPDD) said that there will be no power curtailment in Jammu city from Tuesday onwards.
The statement said that the move was an endeavour towards providing respite to consumers from scorching hot weather prevailing in Jammu region.
"The power cut shall be restricted below six hours rural and unmetered areas,” the statement said.
This comes as parts of Kashmir Valley including the summer capital Srinagar have suffered unannounced and unscheduled power cuts at the peak of summer, causing grave inconvenience to ordinary customers and businesses.
According to reports, the administration has decided not to purchase electricity from the power entities amid growing demand which has forced the power department to resort to unscheduled power cuts.
The government spokesperson said that the improvement in power supply situation in Jammu is due to “certain recent developments in power sector of Jammu and Kashmir like J&K’s own power generating plant i.e. 900 MW Baglihar HEP, which was generating at a reduced capacity due to low discharge of water in river Chenab.”
“It has now picked up and generating power at its full rated capacity,” the statement said.
Similarly, the power allocation from Government of India has increased by 200 MW from Hydro generating stations located outside J&K from where J&K imports power, due to improved generation in central Sector hydro generators such as Naptha Jhakri, Koldam and Tehri. Additionally, there has been an improvement in thermal generation also by around 60 MW, leading to higher allocation of power to J&K.
The JKPDD spokesperson said that in the present era of digitalization, stringent payment security mechanisms have been introduced by the power generating companies (gencos), whereby, JKPDD has to make advance payments to the gencos for procurement of power.
It is worthwhile to mention that the power procurement price from market is also soaring high with average per unit price ranging from Rs. 5 to Rs. 7, against which J&K is charging heavily subsidized average tariff of Rs. 3 only per unit from the residential consumers.
In light of above, the JKPDD spokesperson has appealed the general public to use power judiciously and pay their electricity bills in time enabling JKPDD make timely payments to gencos and ensure smooth power supply to consumers during these peak summer days.