An unprecedented power crisis has cast a shadow over the lives of Kashmiri residents, leaving them in the dark for hours, and at times, even days.
As the winter season approaches, the region of Jammu and Kashmir is currently grappling with a severe power shortage. This deficit has prompted the Power Development Department (PDD) to implement frequent, unannounced power outages.
In response to the growing disparity between electricity supply and demand, the Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has introduced a fresh power curtailment schedule for Srinagar and its adjacent areas.
While a complete plan is expected to be released in the coming days, the current schedule aims to ensure an equitable distribution of power resources.
According to this schedule, KPDCL has outlined a daily power curtailment of 4.5 hours in metered areas. This curtailment will be distributed into three shifts, covering morning, afternoon, and evening periods.
The schedule also indicates that areas without meters will regularly experience an 8-hour curtailment in power supply.
These frequent power interruptions are causing significant inconvenience to the residents and hampering their daily activities and tasks.
The concerned officials attribute the shortage to a drought-like situation in Jammu and Kashmir leading to reduced water discharges in River Jhelum and River Chenab, affecting hydropower generation, and decreased purchases of power from outside power generation companies (Gencos) by the government.
Power demand consistently surpasses the available supply during the coming months, leading to frequent power cuts and load shedding that disrupt daily life and business operations.
Between November and February, electricity consumption by all residential consumers, particularly in the Kashmir region, surges due to the harsh winter conditions.
The valley experiences extreme winter weather, characterized by heavy snowfall and severe cold. These conditions often disrupt the power supply as snow accumulates on power lines, transformers, and other electrical infrastructure, causing breakdowns and outages.
Winter temperatures in Kashmir drop significantly, frequently dipping below freezing. In December and January, temperatures typically range from -2°C to 7°C, with some areas experiencing even more frigid conditions, including sub-zero temperatures.
The harshest part of the Kashmir winter, known as “Chillai Kalan,” lasts 40 days and begins on December 21st. During this period, temperatures reach their lowest points, and heavy snowfall is most prevalent.
In November of the previous year, Kashmir experienced daily power outages lasting 8 hours daily. This situation was particularly challenging, given that the valley is a major contributor to the country’s electricity production and had to contend with sub-zero temperatures.
Despite being a significant electricity producer, generating over 2500 megawatts, the Kashmir Valley, which requires around 2400 megawatts for uninterrupted 24-hour power supply, faced daily 8-hour power cuts throughout the previous November.
Government data indicates that Jammu and Kashmir collectively generate more than 3500 megawatts of electricity from its 24 hydropower projects.
The total electricity demand for the entire Jammu and Kashmir region over 24 hours hovers around the same 3500 megawatts.
Officials said that the electricity demand in the region varies with the seasons; Kashmir requires more power during the winter, while Jammu’s demand rises in the summer. Nevertheless, the overall demand remains relatively constant at approximately 3500 megawatts.
Residents are holding the authorities responsible for their failure to provide regular electricity, which is significantly disrupting their everyday lives.
The industrial sector and businesses are grappling with significant challenges stemming from an insufficient power supply, leading to considerable declines in production and productivity.
Businesses across various sectors heavily depend on electricity, whether it’s for industrial manufacturing or the seamless functioning of e-commerce operations.
The ongoing power shortages in the area have resulted in substantial financial setbacks, prompting business chambers and industry associations to call upon the government to tackle this matter and stimulate economic growth.
Bashir Ah, a resident said, “Frequent power cuts are crippling our businesses. It’s a nightmare. We can hardly get any work done with these frequent outages.”
He said that their productivity has taken a nosedive and it’s affecting their livelihoods.
“We rely on consistent power for our daily operations, but the situation is dire,” he said.
Another resident, Gh Hasan said, “These power cuts have made our lives incredibly difficult, especially during the harsh winter. We need electricity for heating, lighting, and essential tasks,”
“Smart meters were supposed to bring us more efficient power management, but it feels like a broken promise. We thought they would make our lives easier, but the power crisis has left us in the dark, literally and figuratively.”
M Ashraf, a resident of Srinagar, said, “If the electricity situation is this bad in Srinagar, one can only imagine the state of electricity supply in rural Kashmir.”
As per a senior official from KPDCL, “Presently, we have an electricity demand of about 1300 MWs, but our supply capacity is only around 1000 MW. This significant gap of 300 MW between electricity demand and supply in Kashmir has compelled us to carry out power cuts throughout the region.”
