SRINAGAR: Amid apprehensions of a power shortfall in the coming months due to less snowfall and declining water levels, the Power Development Department (PDD) on Saturday said it has a contingency plan in place to tackle the situation.
Officials also stressed the need for more Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in the years ahead to meet growing electricity demand.
A top PDD official said, “More PPAs need to be signed in the coming years to meet the increasing power demand.”
“We are making a prospective plan before entering a new PPA in accordance with the estimated power demands,” the official said, adding that PPAs must be finalized at least a year or two in advance to ensure proper planning.
When asked about concerns over power generation shortages due to low snowfall and water levels, the official said, “The government always takes backup measures to meet power demand.”
“If there is a power generation shortfall during peak periods due to low water levels, the government has contingency plans to tackle the situation,” the official added.
Hydel Power Generation Drops by 84 Per Cent
In the past one month, hydel power generation from power plants across Jammu and Kashmir has dropped by five percent due to reduced snowfall and lower water levels.
Overall, local hydropower generation in Jammu and Kashmir has declined by 84.17 per cent.
In January, PDD generated nearly 250 Megawatts (MW) from local hydel projects, accounting for 20 percent of the total generation capacity. However, this month, power generation has dropped by another five percent, with officials confirming that the department was able to generate only 190 MW of power.
Future Power Demand & Load Shedding Concerns
Authorities have also warned that Jammu and Kashmir could face a 29 percent ‘forced load shedding’ of annual power by 2034-35.
Additionally, projections indicate that over the next ten years, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of power demand is expected to rise by more than four percent in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (KNO)
