Srinagar, Apr 27: Kashmir narrowly averted a complete blackout today thanks to an alternative power transmission line whose existence can be traced back to a sustained campaign by Greater Kashmir newspaper over a decade ago.
In 2012, when all transmission lines supplying electricity to Kashmir ran through the Banihal corridor, a major outage left Kashmir grappling with darkness for nearly a month after the lines were snapped. Recognising the dire need for redundancy, Greater Kashmir launched a forceful campaign calling for the installation of an alternative transmission line through the Mughal Road.
Through sustained coverage highlighting the issue’s urgency, Greater Kashmir’s reportage eventually caught the attention of authorities.
Bowing to public pressure, the government approved the construction of a new transmission line via the Mughal Road, an ancient route connecting Kashmir to Jammu.
The crucial line was completed and commissioned in 2018, finally providing the long-awaited redundancy that Kashmir’s energy security had been lacking.
That investment paid off handsomely this morning when the lines running through Ramban were severed yet again due to land sinking, cutting off the electricity supply.
However, this time around, the Mughal Road transmission line immediately kicked in, preventing any blackout from occurring.