Jammu and Kashmir’s power grid remains vulnerable to cyber threats due to the continued unavailability of real-time telemetry data at both the Jammu & Kashmir State Load Despatch Centre (JK-SLDC) and the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC), according to official documents.
An NRLDC representative flagged the persistent data gaps, warning that the absence of real-time telemetry increases the risk of data breaches and other cyber incidents.
POWERGRID officials informed that while funding issues had earlier delayed progress, around ₹25 crore out of ₹34 crore has now been released through a central scheme. Pending work on Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) — 35 out of 76 installations — is scheduled to begin in August 2025, with TCIL and other vendors engaged for execution. Meanwhile, Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) deliveries under the ULDC Phase-III project have started, with the first batch dispatched and another under inspection.
The forum noted the absence of a J&K representative at the recent review meeting. MS-NRPC stressed the urgent need for POWERGRID to coordinate with J&K authorities to accelerate fund utilisation, synchronise OPGW and RTU integration, and resolve pending issues on priority.
On redundancy, POWERGRID highlighted that many RTUs and Substation Automation Systems (SAS) currently lack sufficient ports for additional communication, necessitating upgrades. Interoperability challenges between systems such as SDH and MPLS were also flagged, requiring gradual resolution.
Private transmission operator IndiGrid raised concerns about compatibility of older equipment with Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), indicating possible hardware upgrades and calling for a clear cost recovery framework for substations operating under the TBCB model.
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