Hydropower generation in Jammu Kashmir dips by nearly 45 percent

October 22, 2025 by News Desk

With the onset of winter, local hydro power generation in Jammu Kashmir has dipped sharply by nearly 45 percent, according to official sources.

Top officials informed that the region’s hydel power output from local plants has reduced by around 500 Megawatts (MW). “As of now, on an average, we are generating nearly 500–600 MW of power. From the Baglihar power project, we are on an average generating nearly 300 MWs. This too depends on the functioning of machines,” an official said.

During the summer peak season, Jammu and Kashmir was generating over 1100 MWs of electricity from its total installed generation capacity of 1197.4 MW. The official added that the reduction is primarily due to low water levels as temperatures drop, affecting water inflows that power the turbines.

Interestingly, despite the seasonal fall, some smaller power projects in Kashmir are performing better than usual this October.

“Due to the reduced water levels, some of the small power projects in Kashmir usually don’t generate any power in October. But this year, due to the late monsoon in Jammu and Kashmir, they are doing very well in comparison to the previous years,” the official noted.

To bridge the growing demand-supply gap, the Union Territory administration has secured additional allocations from the central power pool.

“From this year, we have 1300 MW from the central pool. We have also started banking with other states,” an official confirmed, adding that 800 MWs have been additionally allocated from central resources.

Earlier this year, till the third week of February, Jammu Kashmir had been relying on more than 85 percent of coal and solar power due to an acute deficit in local hydro generation.

Officials from the Power Development Department (PDD) had then said that local hydro power output had dropped by nearly 90 percent.

“At present Jammu Kashmir is 85–90 percent dependent on coal and solar energy that is being procured from other states because as of now we don’t have local power generation,” one official had explained.

“In winters, the local hydro power generation of Jammu and Kashmir power plants has reduced by almost 90 percent and, in order to cater to the requisite power demand, we need to have a base power availability that we procure from outside states. The energy is coal-based energy,” the official added. (KNO)