SRINAGAR: The power demand in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has steadily declined over the past two years, dropping from 19,639 Million Units (MU) in the financial year (FY) 2023 to an estimated 18,439 MU in FY 2025.
Alongside this reduction, the energy not supplied has significantly decreased from 317 MU in FY 2023 to 87 MU in FY 2025, indicating improvements in energy distribution.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Power in response to queries in the Lok Sabha.
The Ministry said that electricity is a concurrent subject, and the responsibility for supply and distribution lies with the respective state governments or power utilities.
“The Government of India has been supporting various initiatives to improve power supply infrastructure in these regions, including schemes such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA). These programmes aim to enhance power supply quality and ensure electricity access for all consumers,” the Ministry said.
Under DDUGJY, 129 villages in Jammu and Kashmir have been successfully electrified. Additionally, the SAUBHAGYA scheme has provided electricity to 3,77,045 households in the region. Despite these advancements, remote and mountainous areas continue to experience intermittent power supply due to infrastructure limitations.
To further improve household electrification, Jammu and Kashmir has received financial support under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). “A total of Rs 238.86 crore has been allocated for the region, with the Government of India contributing Rs 143.32 crore in Gross Budgetary Support (GBS). As a result, 35,467 households in Jammu and Kashmir have been sanctioned for electrification under this scheme,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry of Power also noted that power demand in Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, has shown steady fluctuations over the years. “In FY 2023, the energy requirement stood at 19,632 MU, with 19,525 MU supplied, resulting in a shortfall of 107 MU (0.6%). In FY 2024, the energy demand rose to 19,852 MU, with 19,825 MU supplied, leading to a marginal deficit of 38 MU (0.2%). The projected energy requirement for FY 2025 is 19,125 MU, with an estimated shortfall of 37 MU (0.3%). While the deficit has gradually reduced, seasonal shortages, particularly in winter, continue to impact supply,” the Ministry said.
In addition, Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated a significant number of smart meters under RDSS, including 14,07,045 consumer meters, 88,207 distribution transformer (DT) meters, and 896 feeder meters. These smart meters aim to enhance monitoring and management of electricity consumption across the region.
While there has been progress in expanding power access and reducing energy deficits, challenges persist in ensuring a consistent supply, particularly in remote and high-altitude areas. The government stated that efforts are ongoing to address these issues and upgrade the power distribution network in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (KNO)
