Amid declining power generation from several hydroelectric projects and forced shutdowns, the Jammu and Kashmir government is consulting IIT Roorkee and NHPC to revive projects producing significantly lower power than their design capacity.
Decline in Power Generation
According to an official document accessed by Daily Excelsior, 13 hydroelectric projects in J&K have a combined capacity of 1,197.4 MW and a design energy output of 5,318.11 million units. However, in FY 2023-24, these projects generated only 4,913.28 million units, highlighting a shortfall in expected output.
Some of the worst-affected projects include:
- Upper Sindh Hydropower Project (USHP-I): 36.79 million units generated against 106.62 million units (design energy).
- USHP-II: 141.83 million units generated against 447.37 million units.
- Ganderbal: 18.46 million units generated against 90.15 million units.
- Chenani-I: 60.59 million units generated against 110.02 million units.
- Chenani-II: 0.30 million units generated against 12 million units.
- Chenani-III: 4.45 million units generated against 36.71 million units.
- Bhaderwah & Sewa-III: Zero power generation, despite having a design energy of 8.32 million units and 33.6 million units, respectively.
Causes of Reduced Power Generation
The decline in power output is attributed to several factors:
- Climate Change: Decreased hydrology over time has affected water availability for power generation.
- Aging Infrastructure: Several projects, including 23.3 MW Chenani-I, 105 MW LJHEP, and 22.6 MW USHP-I, have exceeded their design life of 35 years, leading to frequent breakdowns and rising maintenance costs.
- Complete Shutdowns:
- Sewa-III has been non-operational since August 2013 due to damage from torrential rains.
- IIT Roorkee prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in March 2022, estimating a ₹76.68 crore revival cost, including civil repairs and replacement of electro-mechanical equipment.
J&K’s Revival Strategy
To restore power generation capacity, the J&K Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) is developing a technical and financially viable plan for the revival of Sewa-III and other underperforming projects. IIT Roorkee and NHPC are actively advising JKPDC on implementing effective solutions to bring these plants back to full potential.
Expanding J&K’s Hydroelectric Potential
Despite underperformance in older plants, J&K is fast-tracking new hydropower projects to maximize its energy potential. A total of 15 projects are at various stages of development:
- 6 projects (2,063.5 MW) are under construction.
- 2 projects (141 MW) are at the award stage.
- 7 projects (4,563.5 MW) are under DPR/clearance stage.
The government has partnered with NHPC, Joint Venture Companies (CVPPL & RHPCL), and private power producers to accelerate hydroelectric development.
Way Forward
With support from IIT Roorkee and NHPC, J&K aims to:
- Modernize aging hydropower projects.
- Implement advanced hydrology management.
- Ensure optimal power generation to meet growing energy demands.
The revival of underperforming projects, along with new developments, will significantly enhance J&K’s power capacity, reducing dependence on external sources and boosting energy security.
