The Biz Reporter
SRINAGAR: The Government of India informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel under the highest Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses in the country, recording a staggering 48.08 percent for the fiscal year 2023–24.
Union Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik, shared the grim statistics in a written reply to the parliament, highlighting a stark contrast between J&K’s performance and the rest of the nation. While the national average for T&D losses stands at a manageable 17.63 percent, Jammu and Kashmir’s figures remain nearly three times higher, placing it at the bottom of the power efficiency index among all States and Union Territories.
The Data: A Widening Gap
The Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) latest review indicates that while the northern region’s transmission losses—losses that occur while moving electricity from generating stations to the grid—are relatively low at around 3.15 percent, the distribution network within J&K is where the system collapses.
”The major gap lies in overall T&D losses where J&K continues to struggle due to technical gaps, power theft, ageing infrastructure, and distribution challenges,” the Minister stated.
This 48 percent loss implies that for nearly every two units of electricity procured or generated by the Union Territory, almost one unit is lost before it can be billed or monetized, causing a massive financial drain on the exchequer.
Root Causes of the Crisis
The Ministry highlighted several endemic issues plaguing the UT’s power sector:
- Aging Infrastructure: Much of the transmission hardware in the valley is outdated, leading to frequent technical leaks and inefficiencies.
- Power Theft: Illegal hooking and unmetered usage remain rampant in both urban and rural pockets.
- Revenue Collection Efficiency: A significant disconnect remains between the power supplied and the revenue collected, exacerbating the financial liquidity of the Power Development Department (PDD).
- Technical Constraints: The difficult terrain and harsh winters of the region add layers of complexity to maintaining grid stability.
Government Intervention and Schemes
Responding to queries on what is being done to plug these loopholes, Minister Naik detailed the Centre’s ongoing support mechanisms.
”The Centre and States are working to reduce these losses through measures such as network expansion, modernization of transmission systems, and the deployment of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and EMS (Energy Management Systems),” Naik said.
He emphasized that while previous electrification schemes like DDUGJY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana) and SAUBHAGYA (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana) successfully connected all inhabited villages in J&K to the grid, the focus has now shifted to quality and reliability.
Currently, the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) is the flagship initiative driving change. Under RDSS, the Union Government is funding:
- Strengthening of distribution networks.
- Installation of smart prepaid meters to curb theft.
- Upgradation of high-voltage systems to minimize technical losses.
No Land Acquisition Issues
Addressing concerns regarding infrastructure development, the Minister clarified the government’s stance on land use for transmission lines. He stated that land ownership for transmission towers remains with the original owner, and compensation for any damages is provided strictly as per State guidelines, removing potential administrative bottlenecks for new projects.
The Road Ahead
The disclosure in the Lok Sabha underscores the urgent need for structural reforms in J&K’s power sector. While the UT has achieved 100% village electrification, the quality of that connectivity remains compromised by these losses. Without bringing the T&D losses closer to the national average of 17%, the dream of 24×7 reliable power supply in the region may remain elusive.
