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VOICE OF ELECTRICITY WORKERS
M.P. Power position grim
Black-out
• The reservoirs in the state have also begun to dry up, causing a sharp fall in
hydel generation
• The power problem has been compounded because of the sudden fall in
availability by 1100 MW in the
last two days.
• The closure of many hydel and thermal power plant units and stoppage of supply
from outside the state have also contributed to the acute storage.
• The state government has also raised the issue of exorbitant rates charged by
private power production units from where it is forced to purchase electricity
to meet its immediate requirement.
• The most affected by the power problem are people in rural areas, Frequent
power cuts are a regular feature in district and divisional headquarters.
• The Centre has asked the Madhya Pradesh Government to check power thefts with
a firm hand.
Power-strapped Madhya Pradesh is bracing for a grueling summer, with the Centre
and other states refusing to provide electricity even at thrice the normal rate.
The reservoirs in the state have also begun to dry up, causing a sharp fall in
hydel generation.
The power problem, which led to the Congress rout in the Assembly polls held 16
months ago, has been compounded owing to the sudden fall in availability by 1100
MW in the last two days, following closure of many hydel and thermal power plant
units and stoppage of supply from outside the state.
Further worsening the scenario are the worn-out and obsolete power generation
plants with many of their fragile units collapsing frequently. The new projects
in the pipeline are going to take time to be commissioned. With the gap between
demand and supply of electricity widening to 2,000 MW. “Electricity is not
available even on offering three times the rate in normal circumstances as all
outside sources are also finding it tough to meet their own demands.”
While striving to grapple with the crisis, the state government has also raised
the issue of exorbitant rates charged by private power production units from
where it is forced to purchase electricity to meet its immediate requirement.
The power is being purchased at the rate of Rs.5/- per unit, thus state coughing
Rs.10 crore per day extra which will involve 800 crores for meteing the summer
requirement.
The most affected by the power problem are people in rural areas, where frequent
power cuts are a regular feature in district and divisional head quarters. Worst
affected are the farmers in different localities and the students appearing for
various examinations.
Courtesy: Business Standard: 12.4.05
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