Srinagar, Apr 02 (KNO): The power requirements in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh have shown a steady decrease over the past two years, with the energy demand dropping from 19,639 Million Units (MU) in the financial year (FY) 2023 to an estimated 18,439 MU in FY 2025.
Along with this reduction in power demand, the energy not supplied has significantly decreased, dropping from 317 MU in FY 2023 to 87 MU in FY 2025, showcasing improvements in energy distribution.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Power in response to queries in the Lok Sabha, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The Ministry said electricity is a concurrent subject, and the responsibility for supply and distribution falls under the jurisdiction of the respective state governments or power utilities.
"The Government of India has been supporting various initiatives to improve the power supply infrastructure in these regions, including schemes such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA). These programmes are designed to enhance the quality of power supply and ensure access to electricity for all consumers, it said.
Under the DDUGJY, 129 villages in Jammu and Kashmir have been successfully electrified. Furthermore, the SAUBHAGYA scheme has facilitated electricity access for 3,77,045 households in the region. Despite these significant strides, remote and mountainous areas continue to experience intermittent power supply due to existing infrastructure limitations.
Additionally, the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) has provided Jammu and Kashmir with financial support to improve household electrification. "A total of Rs 238.86 crore has been allocated for the region, with the Government of India contributing Rs 143.32 crore in Gross Budgetary Support (GBS). As a result, 35,467 households in Jammu and Kashmir have been sanctioned for electrification under this scheme," the ministry said.
The Ministry of Power further said power demand for Jammu and Kashmir, including Ladakh, has seen steady increases over the years. "In FY 2023, the energy requirement stood at 19,632 MU, with 19,525 MU supplied, resulting in a shortfall of 107 MU (0.6%). In FY 2024, the energy demand rose to 19,852 MU, and 19,825 MU was supplied, resulting in a marginal deficit of 38 MU (0.2%). The projected energy requirement for FY 2025 is 19,125 MU, with an estimated shortfall of 37 MU (0.3%). While the deficit has gradually reduced, seasonal shortages, particularly in the winter months, continue to affect supply," it said.
In addition to these initiatives, Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated a significant number of smart meters under the RDSS. These include 14,07,045 consumer meters, 88,207 distribution transformer (DT) meters, and 896 feeder meters. These smart metering works are aimed at enhancing the monitoring and management of electricity consumption across the region.
While there has been notable progress in improving power access and reducing energy deficits, challenges persist in ensuring consistent supply to all areas, particularly in remote and high-altitude regions. The government said it continues to work towards addressing these issues and upgrading the power distribution network in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh—(KNO)