SRINAGAR: Finally 330 Mw grid capacity have been added to the power system that makes Kashmir Valley to have surplus power for round the clock supply of electricity during summer season.
Chief Engineer Transmission wing of Power Department Hashmet Qazi told Kashmir Reader Alestang 270 Mw and Bandipora 50 Mw have been added to the system few days ago.
“On Wednesday we charged Bandipora, while on Saturday, we added 270 to the system. Both the projects were languishing for a long time,” Qazi said.
With the addition, the total capacity has reached to near about 1600 MWs which is more 300 MWs required peak demand of the summer season. This will also have reduced power cuts during winter. An engineer said, with the demand, the distribution can also supply 24X7 supply during winter by adopting supply side management method.
“There is only a deficit of few hundred MWs during the winter which can be managed by supply side management. If the department can do it, the perennial problem of power crisis which was at the transmission level will be over,” the engineer added.
Bandipora project was in limbo for more than 10 years despite being the first one to cater the requirement in the area where more than 100 villages rely on it. At present the power fed to it comes from Ganderbal, and Pattan grids.
Another delayed grid project, Alesteng which has missed many deadlines either due to systemic inefficiencies, or political uprisings, or bad weather, will have cascading effect on the power supply distribution.
“The projects will add give huge boost, reducing the pressure on the existing ones, and enhancing the power supply by many hours which was limited to five a day,” Qazi added.
An engineer from distribution wing told Kashmir Reader that the impact of both the projects will be seen in coming days when power cuts will reduce. It will take some days to use this capacity at its optimum level, he added.

Junaid Nabi Bazaz