Power Crisis Deepens in Jammu & Kashmir Amid Winter

November 30, 2024
By  Jyoti Jangra

In the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, households commonly face frequent power outages and struggle with unaffordable electricity tariffs. This, despite the region's immense potential for hydroelectric power generation. Asad Ullah Mir describes the developmental injustices his community endures due to the extraction of hydroelectric power. Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid, a 50-year-old resident of Dal Gate in Srinagar, discusses the tough choices low-income families must make between electricity and basic necessities. This raises a pressing question: Why must the people of this region endure cold, dark winters?

The state is endowed with abundant water resources, including over 20 major rivers like the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi. These rivers offer an estimated hydropower potential of 20,000 MW, of which only 3,500 to 4,000 MW has been harnessed. Out of this, nearly 1,200 MW is generated and consumed locally, while 2,300 MW, extracted by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), is supplied to the national grid.

While electricity supply remains stable in summer, winter presents a starkly different reality. As temperatures drop and rivers freeze, hydropower generation dwindles to just one-fifth of its usual capacity. Simultaneously, electricity demand doubles due to increased heating needs.

To bridge this significant shortfall during the peak season, the J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) spends heavily on power purchases from the central grid. In the 2023–24 financial year alone, the J&K Government spent over 90 billion rupees to secure additional electricity.

Adding to this financial burden are substantial Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses. According to Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, these losses exceed 35 billion rupees annually, posing severe challenges to the region's power infrastructure and fiscal stability. Ultimately, these financial constraints limit the government’s ability to procure sufficient electricity, resulting in prolonged power cuts during winters.

Jammu and Kashmir records the second-highest AT&C losses in the country after Nagaland, averaging between 50-60% annually. These losses include technical inefficiencies due to poor infrastructure, as well as commercial losses from theft, billing errors, and uncollected dues.