Solar power plant defunct at SDH Uri for over 5 years

Uri, Nov 12: A solar power plant meant to supply electricity to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district has been lying defunct for the last five years.

Locals stated that the 8.4 KW solar plant was installed in 2002 by the Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA).

“It was repaired only once, in 2014, and no further maintenance or repairs have been carried out since, leading to its deteriorating condition,” residents said.

Mohsin Bhat, a local resident of Uri town said the solar plant is in poor condition. “The batteries provide only 15-20 minutes of backup and are rusting. They are in such bad condition that they cannot even charge properly. They need either major repairs or replacement,” he said.

Currently, the hospital depends on three sources of electricity: direct supply, the solar plant, and a diesel generator. “Direct supply is intermittent, the solar plant has limited backup and is in poor condition, and the diesel generator consumes a lot of fuel, leading to high costs,” said a health official at SDH Uri.

“Many surgeries, especially those involving pregnant women, are carried out late at night, and power interruptions impact them. The hospital desperately needs a reliable, permanent power source,” Bhat added.

The 60-bedded hospital serves a population of nearly 1.3 lakh, including residents from over 100 villages, and several villages along the Line of Control (LoC) such as Charunda, Hathlanga, Kamalkote, Mothal, and Sourha. Located just a few kilometres from the LoC, SDH Uri also treats victims of cross-border shelling and landmine injuries.

A senior hospital official confirmed  that the solar plant has been out of order for five years. “It requires major repairs, or it will affect the hospital’s functioning,” he said.

Locals have appealed to the Director Health Services Kashmir to address the issue on priority.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Uri said that he has already raised the issue with higher authorities.

“I have written to the CMO Baramulla in June this year on this issue, who has updated the Directorate office. We are awaiting a response,” he said.

Dr Mastoora Akhter, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla said that the government body JAKEDA, which installed the plant, had not kept any provisions for maintenance. “As a result, it has become defunct,” she said.