Jammu Kashmir: Low River Discharge Hits Power Generation

Srinagar: For the last two months, the prolonged dry spell, causing a 50 per cent rain deficit in Jammu and Kashmir, has triggered a shortfall in hydropower generation.
But the fresh rains bringing respite from the heatwave and recharging rivers are expected to boost the output, officials said.

According to a senior official from the power department, the three power projects particularly in Kashmir's Sindh river were significantly affected due to reduced water levels.

"Of our total capacity of 1300 Megawatts, we could generate 1100 Megawatts due to lower water level especially in Sindh river," Managing Director J&K Power Development Corporation Limited Rahul Yadav told ETV Bharat.

The key source of energy Baglihar on Chenab rive,r which generates 10000 MW and Lower Jhelum Hydro Project generated 100 MW were unaffected, he added.

"But the only issue was 300 MW shortfall with three projects in Sindh generating low output due to reduced water discharge there. But now with rivers being recharged by rains, generation is expected to improve," Yadav added.

Kashmir experienced an intense summer heat in the last two months with the mercury breaching records, including experiencing the third hottest July day since 1946. Earlier, June was recorded to be the hottest since 1978 with average temperature hovering over 32 degrees Celsius, taking the discharge in water bodies to record low levels.

In Ganderbal, the Sindh river which has three power projects including the oldest power projects Lower Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project commissioned in 1955, had almost dried up.

Executive Engineer generation in Sindh Mureed Choudhary attributes the dip in generation to diversion of water to drinking and irrigation, which is the priority in peak season. Besides, he said that ongoing refurbishing works had also hit the generation.

The Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project I and Upper Sindh Hydroelectric Power Project II Sumbal total generate 105 and over 22 MWs respectively. "But the generation reached below 36 MWs," he added.

Engineer Iftikhar Drabu, who is a hydropower expert, said the ongoing discharge in rivers mimics winter level, when hydropower generation would drop significantly.

On the other hand, Director Meteorological Centre Srinagar Mukhtar Ahmad does not see intermittent rains to 'significantly' improve discharge of water in Kashmir compared to Jammu, where rivers can swell.

Jammu and Kashmir requires a total energy of 3000 MW. While around 1000 MW is generated locally in summers, the rest is procured from other states under power purchase agreements.

But during winters, the hydro power generation reaches all time low around 150 MW, triggering shortfall in energy leading to curtialments.

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