POWER CRISIS OF J&K STATE-a power station at the gates of Srinagar City.

POWER SCENARIO OF J&K STATE Power Development Corporation: Power Development in Jammu and Kashmir has a long and distinguished history. 9MW Mohra Hydro-electric Plant, among the first of its kind in the subcontinent, was developed as early as 1905. The estimated hydel potential is about 20,000 MW, out of which projects of about 16,200 MW capacity have already been identified. These projects are techno-economically viable, besides being eco-friendly and socially beneficial. In order to harness this potential in a sustained manner, the Government of J&K established the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDCL) which has been incorporated as Private limited company on 16th February 1995. The Corporation was incorporated to takeover, execute, complete, operate and maintain all power stations and power projects of the State. The assets of all the power projects in the State, both existing and under implementation were transferred to the Corporation. The Corporation presently has 20 hydroelectric projects with installed capacity of 758.70MW located in various districts of Jammu & Kashmir including 450MW BHEP. The Corporation has Gas Turbines based on HSD with installed capacity of 175 MW at Pampore near Srinagar. In accordance with the State Hydel Policy, 2003 JKSPDC has allotted 10 small HEPs with a total capacity of 110.50 MWs under IPP phase-I. The State Government is presently reviewing existing State Hydel policy, 2003 for project implementation from 2-100MW to make it more investor friendly and thus attract investment and expertise from private players in the sector on a large scale. J & K State in one its achievements took lead in award of a mega hydro power scheme on tariff based competitive bidding process. J & K is the first State in India to award 690 MW Ratle HEP (mega hydro power project) on BOOT basis through a tariff based competitive bidding process. The corporation is also pursuing the development of geothermal project in Pugah valley of Leh, Ladakh. Existing Projects: Lower Jhelum3 x 35105 Upper Sindh-I2x11.322.6 Ganderbal2x3+2x4.515 Upper Sindh-II3x35105 Pahalgam 2 x 1.53 Karnah2x12 Chenab Basin Chenani-I5x4.6623.30 Chennai-II2x12 Chenani-III3x2.57.50 Bhaderwah2 x 0.51 Baglihar3x150450 Ravi Basin Sewa-III3x39 Indus Basin Iqbal 3x1.253.75 Hunder2x0.200.40 Sumoor2x0.050.10 Igo-Mercellong2x1.503 Haftal2x0.501 Marpachoo3x0.250.75 Bazgo2x0.150.30 Stakna 2x24 Total 758.70 CENTRAL SECTOR Salal HEP6x115690 Uri -I4x120480 Dul-Hasti3x130390 Total 1560 　 . 　 Upcoming Projects: Name of Power ProjectCapacity in MW STATE SECTOR Baglihar Stage-II450 Pahalgam (3rd Unit)1.50 Matchil0.35 Baderwah (3rd Unit)0.5 Sanjak1.26 Total453.61 CENTRAL SECTOR Uri-II240 Sewa-II120 Nimo Bazgo45 Chutak44 Total449 　 　 .

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Projects being taken up for the development in State/Central Sector.

S.No.	Name of the Project	Name of the Basin	Estimated Capacity ( MW)
1.	Sawalkote I&II	Chenab	1200
2.	Baglihar-II	Chenab	450
3.	Parnai	Jehlum	37.5
4.	New Ganderbal	Jehlum	93
5.	Lower Kalnai	Chenab	50
6.	Kirthai-I	Chenab	240
7.	Kiru	Chenab	600
8.	Ratle	Chenab	690
9.	Kawar	Chenab	520
10.	Ujh Multipurpose Project	Ravi	280
11.	Pakul Dul (Central Sector)	Chenab	1000
12.	Bursar (Central Sector)	Chenab	1020
13.	Kishenganga (Central Sector)	Jehlum	330

IPP Phase-I (Under Implementation)

S.No.	Name of the Project	District	Capacity
1.	Ratle	Kishtwar	690.00
2.	Athwathoo	Bandipura	10.00
3.	Tangmarg	Baramulla	10.00
4.	Aharbal	Pulwama	22.50
5.	Hirapora	Pulwama	12.00
6.	Brenwar	Budgam	5.00
7.	Kahmil	Kupwara	4.00
8.	Boniyar	Baramulla	12.00
9.	Mandi	Poonch	12.50
10.	Ranjala Dunadi	Doda	15.00
11.	Drung	Kathua	5.00

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NEW GANDERBAL HYDRO_ELECTRIC PROJECT

The existing Ganderbal power station is the last of the hydro stations at the tail end of Sindh river and was commissioned in 1955. The station is located at Ganderbal -20 km from Srinagar city on Srinagar-Leh highway. The installed capacity of the station is 15 MW. The station has served 56 years and outlived its normal life. The station had been giving trouble and units had been derated Thus PDC decided to take effective measures to improve the power generation at this power station. It was decided in 1990 to build a new station and utilize the existing derated units with some renovation for 6/7 years till the new ones are commissioned.

DEMAND OF POWER

The growth of power demand in the J&K State has increased tremendously specially in view of the demand on account of Lift Irrigation, Agro Industries, Extension of Rural development, Industrial Expansion, Telecommunications, Water conveniences etc. The total installed capacity in the State is about 758.70 MW plus stand by gas turbine capacity of 175 MW and the total requirement far exceeds it. The present power demand is estimated to be 1850 MW, hence there is a shortfall of about 1100 MW.

The population of Srinagar has increased since independence to about 12 Lakhs. Increase in generation of power to the existing system is microscopic as only a small percentage of the generated power by NHPC is shared with the State. (There has been much contoversy on the issue of taking back the projects from NHPC) This hopeless situation prevails is inspite of the connection of the valley to the northern grid and any import of power is to be bougght at a heavy price.. The miserable condition of the city of Srinagar and the rural areas is evident to the residents as well as to the visitors. The speedy completion of in-progress projects is the need of the hour, besides the proposed New Ganderbal project so close to the city of Srinagar, would go a long way to help the State.

SINDH RIVER BASIN

The river Sindh is one of the major tributaries of Jhelum, starting in the mountains of Sonamarg at Panchtarani. It has a fall of 2110 meters in a length of 87 Kms upto Ganderbal. The river has large power potential and efforts are under way to tap this renewable source of energy. The various projects which are existing and those which are planned are as under:

Existing Projects: (in order of ascendency)

a) Ganderbal Project: The old power station at Ganderbal was commissioned in the year 1955 and has an installed capacity of 15 MW, now derated to about 11 MW. This station utilises a head of 140 m.

b) Upper Sindh Hydel Project (Stage II)

This project utilizes the head of about 220 m between Sumbal and Kangan. The power house at Kangan has an installed capacity of 70 MW. There was also a provision for adding another unit of 35 MW in the second phase of the project.

c) Upper Sindh Hydel Project (Stage I)

This power station utilises the head of about 150 m between Kulan and Sumbal. The power house at Sumbal has an installed capacity of 22.6 MW This was commissioned in the year 1974.

Future Projects:

a) Shitkari Kulan H.E. Project ( Stage I) -head = 500m, Proposed Inst. Capacity= 84 MW.

b) Shitkari Kulan M.E. Project (Stage II) high dam,proposed inst. capacity= 165 M.

c) No proposals to utilise the drop of 950 m between Panchtarni and Nilgrar due to severe winter conditions and complex geological conditions.

Proposals:

PHE Department have under consideration a proposal to provide a free flow tunnel for augmenting the supply of rain water to Srinagar City water supply system for meeting growing demand. This scheme consists of diverting the water of Sindh river near Prang. It was considered that this tunnel for municipal water supply can be usefully utilised for conveying water for generation of power requirements also. A new diversion structure would also be necessary in view of the bad state in which the present structure is functioning. The existing power station will be abondoned only after the new station comes into operation which may take about 7/8 years after sanction and making availability of funds possible.

In addition the Kangan Power House has been planned to be operated as peaking station. The releases unless picked up and stored at Preng, will be wasted during peak hours. The bad state of rockfill weir at Prang plus losses along 14 km. length of canal are reasons for the less discharge supposed to be diverted from the tail race of the USHP at Kangan.

To meet the power, water supply and irrigation demands the water conductor system for a discharge of 49 cumecs has been designed. With the amount of water available for power generation and the balancing capacity, provision of an installation of about 60 MW consisting of 4 units of 15 MW have been found appropriate. A free flow/pressure tunnel of about 4.80 m diameter horse-shoe shape conducts water from the diversion weir to the forebay surge shaft from where penstocks take off.

The project is located on the outskirts of srinagar city. srinagar has registered a phenomenal growth of population from 2 lakhs in 1941 to 12 lakhs at present. added to this, the city attracts a large number of tourists, commuting population and this makes the population almost double in peak tourist season. Being close to the city, the transmission losses from the power station to the city are minimum as compared to those of the other power houses located in farther areas. The head race tunnel of 4.8 m diameter is 10.8 km long, from surge shaft one branch tunnel of 2m diameter takes off for feeding the water supply requirements which shall empty at Rangil reservoir.

The new power house site is proposed to be adjacent to the existing power house and the tail rasce channel passes through low lying area and open fields and the discharge falls into river Sindh, just before its start fanning out into the Anchar lake. The proposed alignment has got built up during the past few years due to pressure of urbanisation.

Office and residential complexes were proposed to be constructed on the open land at Nunar to be acquired for the purpose.

The construction of infrastructure facilities were taken up in the year 1994-95, when I was posted as Executive Engineer in the project and procurement of materials besides land acquistion proceedings were initiated, but the work got stalled due to unfavourable circumstances created in the valley.

The Stage-I of the project was estimated to cost about Rs. 115 crores and the generation cost was worked out to 61 Paise/ KWH.

Now recently it has come in the media that Government has the intention of resuming the work on this vital Hydroelectric Project.