As Kashmir continues to grapple with power challenges, the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL) has announced a temporary increase in power curtailment by 2 to 2.5 hours.
This decision stems from a considerable reduction in power generation, a consequence of the prolonged dry spell affecting the Valley.
In a statement on its microblogging site, X (formerly Twitter), KPDCL informs the public of the necessary measure, emphasizing that this heightened curtailment during peak hours will be in effect until a sufficient power supply is restored. However, the corporation reassures the public that normal curtailment will resume once the power generation situation improves.
This move comes in response to concerns raised earlier in the week, where it was reported that the dry spell was anticipated to impact the power generation capacity in Jammu and Kashmir. H Rajesh Prasad, the Principal Secretary of the Power Development Department (PDD), had warned of potential distress in the upcoming summer and winter seasons if the weather situation persists.
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Prasad notes that the power generation capacity from Jammu and Kashmir had already seen an alarming 85% reduction in December 2023 due to water shortage.
The total power generation capacity across the region is 1200 Megawatts, but the current generation is a mere 150MWs, creating a substantial shortfall.
Earlier, the Kashmir valley has been facing a power curtailment of 4-8 hours as per the curtailment schedule issued the electricity department, however, people say that the schedule is not followed by the department.