850 km transmission line to bridge power infra gap  in JK

Srinagar, July 25: An 850 kilometre power transmission line is scheduled to be commissioned in first week of August that would “bridge the gap” of power infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sterlite Power, a private company started working on the project in August 2014 at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore.

CEO Sterlite Power, Ved Tiwari, said that commissioning of Northern Region System Strengthening project would enable power transfer of 1000 MW to the Kashmir Valley thus increasing the grid capacity of 70 percent.

“It will be commissioned on August 4 and will transfer 1000 MWs of power to the state from the northern grid,” Tiwari told a press conference here.

He said that project would be commissioned despite challenges like difficult terrain, unpredictable and harsh weather conditions along with security concerns.

“The project will deliver over 1000 MW of electricity from Punjab to Kashmir by strengthening the national grid.  Nearly 1150 towers have been erected in some of the most challenging terrains of the Pir Panjal range. Towers have been even installed at a height of over 11,000 feet. High cranes were used, which have never been used anywhere in Asia. Helicopters were also used in installing towers,” he said.

He said that state currently produces only 800 MW of power.  “Within three years it will require almost 4,000 MW of power,” he said.

He said that Samba Amargarh transmission line has been laid through Mughal Road. “The power supply gets disrupted during winters due to snowfall and land sliding. But with this transmission line, there will be a huge improvisation in power supply,” he said.

He said that special precautions were taking in laying of lines.

When asked how far it will help state to improvise power, he said, “The infrastructure is now available. It will depend on the Power Development Department how it will supply power to power,” he added.

Last winter, the government of India announced an allocation of additional power of 792 MW for Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters in the state. However, it did not help then state to improvise power as the required infrastructure was not available.