National Institute of Technology Dargah Hazratbal and Islamia College of Science and Commerce Hawal, Srinagar have suspended all academic activities for the day.

According to a communique issued by Principal, Islamia College, “The classwork of all the semesters and internal examinations, including T-series shall remain off today (30-11-2023) and will be rescheduled w.e.f tomorrow 01-12-2023.”

However, backlog examinations of 3rd semester shall be conducted as per schedule, reads the communique.

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Soon after the announcement of Islamia College, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar also announced the suspension of classwork for today.

According to a communique issued by Prof. Atikur Rehman, Incharge Registrar, NIT Srinagar, “This is to inform you that the Institute will observe a holiday on Thursday, November 30, 2023.”

All academic activities, including classes, examinations, and administrative work, shall remain suspended on 30/11/2023,” reads the communique.

Unscheduled power outages in Kashmir pose a serious threat to the well-being of patients relying on oxygen support at home.

In Srinagar City, unreliable power supply has left patients in perilous situations, while those living in rural areas face many more challenges.

Patients across various areas of Srinagar expressed anguish, saying that the frequent and unscheduled power disruptions have transformed their lifeline—oxygen supply—into a source of anxiety and suffering.

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Shakeel Ahmad, the son of a patient from the Barzulla area in Srinagar, said continuous power is crucial for oxygen concentrators which are vital for supporting those with respiratory conditions.

Despite the city setting, Ahmad said he faces hurdles in ensuring a constant oxygen supply for his father. “I have to travel to Batamaloo every alternate day to fill an oxygen cylinder, which costs around Rs 500 including fare,” he said.

Another patient from Wantpora, Srinagar, echoed similar concerns, saying there is an imperative need for a 24×7 oxygen supply, which becomes unattainable due to power outages.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, the patient said any disruption exceeding half an hour can lead to deterioration in their health.

Patients and their families in other areas of Srinagar said they are grappling with the challenge of managing power backup solutions and ensuring the safety of their loved ones. While some have resorted to alternative power sources, these solutions come with their own set of challenges, and not everyone can afford generators or backups, they said.

Expressing the financial constraints faced by many, they revealed that patients from financially weaker sections rely on concentrators provided by NGOs, but managing daily refills for oxygen cylinders remains a daunting task.

If such is the condition of patients in Srinagar City, then one can understand what will be the condition of patients in rural areas who have to come to Srinagar or visit hospitals here to fill cylinders on a daily basis, they said.

The patients and their families urged the government to address the matter and ensure, at the very least, a scheduled power supply.

Authorities on Wednesday said that the price for the recent 500 MW thermal power purchase agreement will likely increase the tariff by one rupee per unit in comparison to the existing tariff of hydro power.

Principal Secretary Power Developed Department (PDD) H Rajesh Prasad said that the process to channelize newly purchased 500 MW will be received soon.

“We are more dependent on hydropower. However, we have already made a solar power purchase agreement of 1600 MW that is higher than hydropower,” he said, adding that by December-2024, JK will have solar power too.

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The principal secretary however said that in solar energy there is a variability factor during the sunshine day and other dull days so that also have certain limitations.

“Only the thermal electricity generation with either coal or gas is not based on seasonality. Under thermal energy we will have a 24 hours power supply,” Prasad said.

Speaking about the recent agreement of purchasing 500 MW power, the principal secretary further said that the government has already given permission for it.

On asking about the revised tariff per unit for the new power purchase agreement of 500 MW, Prasad said that the agreement is for thermal power.

“The base rate of thermal power will likely be a bit higher than the hydro and solar power.” He said,

“The rate of hydro electricity is around Rs-4.50 paisa per unit, however the thermal electricity price may go up nearly by a rupee per unit from the existing rate to Rs-5.25 paisa or Rs 5.50 paisa. It will likely be a bit costlier but we need that base load for the support. It is a very reasonable rate.”

“With regard to the power purchase agreement of 500 MW thermal energy, I think the supply will come in the coming days,” he said.

Prasad said that the PDD department in the meanwhile was buying power from the power exchange. “Power exchange is very volatile, it is like the share market.”

A power exchange is a trading platform where electricity producers and electricity consumers meet.

There are two types of power exchanges. In power exchanges specialised in physical trading, electricity producers and consumers trade with the aim of the physical delivery of electricity from the producer to the consumer.

“We have healthy and sufficient power purchase agreements to take care of the base load,” he said.

Prasad also said, “Although we have got the permission to purchase 500 MW of thermal power, there are some procedures still to go through from the central electricity authority to get the price approved. I guess that process will get completed in 2-3 days.”