NIT Srinagar hosts seminar on challenges, future of India’s power sector under ABC initiative;We are shaping future engineers to tackle sustainability and energy challenges: Director

Srinagar, June 22: Under the Alumni Back to Classroom (ABC) initiative, Dean Alumni and International Affairs, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar, on Monday, organized a seminar titled “The Power Sector in India: Addressing Emerging Challenges in the Power Sector, Sustainable Energy Development, Loss Minimization, Workforce Adequacy with Special Reference to the J&K System.

The event was held at Hi-Tech 5 and brought together alumni, faculty members, engineers, and students for an in-depth discussion on India’s evolving power sector and the specific challenges faced by Jammu and Kashmir. The event was presided over by Mrs. Rao, Former Professor of Delhi University, and coordinated by Dr. H. S. Pali (Civil Eng, NIT Srinagar.)

The first technical session was delivered by Er. K. Ashok Rao, an alumnus from the early batches of NIT Srinagar. Recalling the Institution’s early years in the 1960s, Er Rao highlighted the challenges students faced due to limited laboratory infrastructure, forcing them to travel to other institutions such as Thapar University for practical training.

He traced the evolution of India’s power sector from conventional fossil-fuel-based steam generation to modern and diversified energy systems.

Er Rao also discussed the limitations of early solar-thermal technologies and stressed the importance of achieving energy self-sufficiency in India.

The second technical session was presented by Er. Peerzada Hidayatullah, Assistant Engineer, JKPDD, and Vice Chairman of AIPEF, who focused on the power sector challenges in Jammu and Kashmir.

He outlined the historical growth of the J&K Power Development Department and highlighted major achievements in electricity infrastructure expansion from 1988 to 2026, including the electrification of far-flung areas such as Ladakh and Kargil.

Er Hidayatullah said that Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses in Jammu and Kashmir have reduced substantially from nearly 75–80 percent in 1988 to around 30–35 percent in 2026.

He also spoke about expanding transformer capacity, increasing solar power integration, and sustaining engineering efforts to curb power theft.

Earlier, Dean AIA, Prof. M. A. Shah said that energy demand in the coming decade is expected to rise significantly, making discussions on sustainable energy and power-sector reforms highly relevant for students, engineers, and policymakers alike.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening alumni engagement with the institute, stating that initiatives like ABC help reconnect former students with their alma mater and create opportunities for mentorship, professional guidance, and career growth for current students, especially those from modest backgrounds.

In his message, Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia, said that the power sector is undergoing a transformational phase driven by technological advancements, renewable energy integration and rising energy demand.

He said academic institutions like NIT Srinagar have a crucial role in preparing future engineers to address challenges related to sustainability, grid resilience, and energy efficiency.

Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman emphasized the importance of industry-academia collaboration in addressing real-world challenges in critical sectors such as power and energy.

He lauded the efforts of the Dean Alumni and International Affairs office for organizing impactful academic interactions under the ABC initiative.

A documentary on the first Electrical Power Station of Mohra was also screened during the event. On behalf of the Alumni Association, Er. Farhan Manzoor felicitated dozens of Electrical Engineers, including Gold Medalist Er. Hurayasrab (AEE).