JAMMU, JUNE 16: The power crisis in power starved Jammu and Kashmir is likely to aggravate further as Northern Grid has curtailed the daily power allocation share of the state by around 5-7 percent.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that Northern Grid which supplies power to five northern states including Jammu and Kashmir has curtailed power allocation share of the state by 5-7 percent from last few days, apparently to reduce pressure in the prevailing hot conditions.
 “With summer being at its peak the power demand in the northern states has recorded steep increase. To meet the increased power demand, most of the states have been overdrawing extra power against their allocated share” sources said, adding that to maintain the grid discipline the Northern Grid authorities have reduced power allocation of the state.
 They said that the generation capacity of hydro electric power projects which supplied power to Northern Grid, have also witnessed decline, which could also be attributed to the  reduction in power share allocation.
 “During summer season the Northern Grid authorities generally enhance the power allocation to Punjab and Haryana, while in winters the allocation is increased to Himachal Pradesh and J&K. Presently the power demand inPunjab and Haryana is at its peak partly due to prevailing hot conditions and the cultivation season for crops, including paddy. Given the situation, the authorities at Northern Grid have reduced J&K’s share to save heating of power grid” they said.
 They said that to reduce pressure and maintain grid discipline the Northern Grid  has reduced the power share of J&K and Himachal as most of the  states have been overdrawing power against their scheduled power allocations.
 Jammu and Kashmir is also overdrawing extra power from Northern Grid   as compared to its allocated share since last many days. “On Friday the power allocation to state at 5 AM was 935 MWs but the state was drawing 217 MWs  more power,  similarly at 8 PM, allocation was 1136 MWs but it was being overdrawn by 132 MWs” sources said, adding that on Saturday at 6 AM the power allocation was 1007 MWs but state was overdrawing by 284 MWs, while at 2 PM against the allocation of 965 MWs, the  state was  drawing 106 MWs of more power” they said.
 Sources further informed that the power crisis were likely to aggravate further as   the power demand in all the northern states would continue to increase with days becoming more hotter in coming months and  to maintain the grid discipline, the power curtailment of J&K would increase further.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST