Govt frames strategy to deal with power cuts, water crisis as heat wave continues in Jammu

The maximum temperature in this winter capital of the state is notching between 40 degrees to 43 degrees Celsius and the heat wave is continuing across the region barring hilly districts.
According to sources, the government has taken major steps to meet the power crisis vis-a-vis curtail the water shortage in the district.

As per official figures, the winter capital of the state is presently facing shortage of 11 million gallons per day.

However, with regard to power, the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department on May 2 had announced that this summer there will be no power curtailment in metered urban areas of Jammu, Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban Districts while the rural consumers will also get respite with reduction in scheduled power cut from 8 hours to 7 hours.

Unfortunately, despite this order, Jammu is facing worst ever power crisis, sources added.

“Capacity addition of 50 MVA at 220 kV and 290 MVA at 132 kV level will provide a strong back-end support to the Distribution network while huge addition of 149.60 MVA&167 MVA at 33 kV & 11 kV levels, respectively in Distribution sector will address the voltage profile issues to a larger extent even during the peak summer period,” said an official spokesman.

He said that the comparison of expected power cut during peak summers of this year with last year as per the available capacities, area-wise details.

Chief Engineer, EM&RE Wing, Jammu, Sudhir Gupta also called a co-ordination committee meeting of officers from various divisions of the wing to formulate strategy to meet the growing power demand besides dealing with frequent power curtailments due to system overload.

It was informed that with the rise in mercury, the oil and winding of power transformers get heated up and exceed the thermal limit of the said transformers, causing forced power curtailment.

Sources said that it was decided that external cooling through air blast shall be done by installing cooling fans as they will help in reducing the temperature of the said transformers, thereby enhancing their capacity.

Meanwhile, advisor to Governor K.K. Sharma on June 3 directed the Power Development Department to ensure that the consumers of Jammu region get adequate power supply especially in view of the prevailing hot spell.

To overcome the hardships faced by people due to power shortage in hot summer days in Jammu, the Advisor directed PDD to ensure adequate availability and strict adherence to power cut schedule so that consumers do not face any inconvenience on this account.

He called for putting in a fool proof mechanism in order to make sure that the minimal T&D losses do not occur.

The Advisor said “we are visioning 24×7 power for all, system strengthening works shall be expedited at a rapid pace in line with the roadmap furnished for the same.”

Since no check was being paid on the leaked pipes by the the Public Health and Engineering Department across the division, the Jammu Urban Sector kept facing the water crisis amid rising temperature.

As per official sources, the Jammu Urban Sector, is facing water shortage for the past so many years despite the fact, the crisis has been almost met with the installation of new tube wells and water schemes.

“The Jammu district (Urban Sector) is facing a water shortage of 11 million gallons per day,” official sources here said.

They said that previously, the crunch was of 50 million gallons per day but in view of commencement of many water related schemes in Jammu region, the water shortage has reduced to 11 million gallons per day.

The water required in Jammu Urban Sector at the moment is 65 million gallons per day (MGD) but only 54 million gallons are being supplied, said a senior official.

He added that the sector is facing shortage of 11 million gallons per day presently, adding, “construction of more tube wells is in the pipe line and in the coming days, water schemes will be launched to end the water crisis by year end.”

The temperature in Jammu has crossed 40 degree Celsius for the past 10 days and there is no respite from the soaring mercury.

Sources said that in many localities, water meters have also been installed to keep check on water usage, which will also help the department in meeting the water crisis in future.