Shevani Thakur
The power crisis in the state has led to long power outages ranging from 07 to 09 hours in urban areas and up to 13 hours in rural areas. There have been regular incidences when power demand touches peak levels, and the supply-demand gap widens, serious power crisis erupt in the state. The current power situation of the stage is tragic as the state sits on an immense potential of green or renewable energy. J&K has an estimated hydro power potential of around 20,000 Megawatts (MW), this is almost half of total potential of the country.
Till date potential worth 16475 MW have been identified out of which only around 3200 MW is been harnessed currently. NHPC, the biggest hydro-power corporation of the country has one third of its installed capacity being in J&K (out of its total installed capacity of 7,047 MW across the country, 2,339 MW are located in J&K). Recently bestowed projects of Kiru and Ratle will take its contribution from the state to almost 4000 MW. The state government is willing to add more than 5,000 megawatts of power using the flow of its rivers within the next five to six years.
In a major move, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the month of February this year, by NHPC Ltd. with Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Department (JKPDD) and J&K State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) for the execution of 850MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project. The expected completion cost of the project is Rs 6215.61 crore, the project falls under Indus Water Treaty, 1960 and is designed to generate 3136.80 Million Units in a 90% dependable year. Following that, in March, CCEA approved the investment sanction for the construction of Kiru Hydroelectric Project by 624MW by M/s Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt . Ltd. The total cost of Rs, 4287.59 cr has been estimated for the project in which NHPC is expected to infuse equity of Rs, 630.28 cr. The project is expected to be completed in four and half year's time.
The Indus River has immense hydro-power potential which has mostly remained untapped. The geographic location of the state of Jammu and Kashmir gives it a unique advantage to harness hydro-power from the three major rivers of the Indus. Optimising the mountainous water resources of Jammu and Kashmir, NHPC is all set to expand its capacity in the ranges of Indus Waters and the Chenab. If harnessed properly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be benefited largely not only in terms of availability of electricity but also employment opportunity, socioeconomic development and improvement in educational system.
Perhaps, understanding the present scenario, the focus primarily is on Run-off-the-river plant because of its unique features like environment agreeable, high capacity factor as compared to solar and wind energy, renewability and of course the economic feasibility has further increased the importance of RUN-OFF-RIVER plant. Subsequently, all the projects are on Run of the River (ROR) scheme making it possible to produce electricity at a lesser expenses.
The key reason that the state has not been unable to utilise its water resources to cut down on its energy deficit, is lack of finances. Increase in joint ventures and public-private partnerships can give the required momentum for reaping the benefits of hydro-power generation in the state. This will not only directly improve the state's power deficit but also have great impact on overall socioeconomic development.
