The Hindu : Sheila promises a better summer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

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Sheila promises a better summer

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 3. Declaring the resolve of her Government to tackle the power situation in the Capital, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today said the aim was to bring down load-shedding to nil by next year from the present level of two to three hours a day.

Inaugurating a 100-MVA transformer at the 220-kv grid sub- station at Okhla, Ms. Dikshit said the power reforms introduced by her Government had started paying dividends and said her Government had in place a plan to deal with the rising demand for power during the peak summer season. The Chief Minister said her Government had already tied up for purchase of 4,000 MW of power and was well equipped to tackle any kind of exigency. "I am personally reviewing the working of the private power companies and they have promised a much better summer this year. As far as power is concerned, Delhi is in a comfortable position and people should have no cause for worry,'' she remarked.

Expressing serious concern over the 12 per cent annual increase in the demand for power every year, the Chief Minister said despite this sharp increase, the Delhi Government had been able to successfully meet the rising demand. Stating that when her Government took over the power scenario was very bad, Ms.Dikshit said the average load shedding at that time was around 8 to ten hours. But now that has been reduced and brought down to two to three only and this element would be completely eliminated by next year. The bold initiatives taken by my Government on the power front will bear fruit and the Delhiites would themselves witness the difference. "My Government is not only development oriented but also has given partnership in governance to the people of Delhi which was something never happened before. We are focussed on the betterment of the society irrespective of caste, creed and religion,'' she added.

Asking Delhiites to come forward and take part in the welfare of the society and city as such, the Chief Minister said the citizens also need to join hands with the Government and private companies for better power management.

At the same time, she asked the private companies to be sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the consumers so that there is a mutual working relationship. At the same time, she asked the private power companies not to let up their guard and give thrust to improving infrastructure and reducing the complaint redressal time.

Speaking on the occasion, the Delhi Power Minister, Ajay Maken, said the new transformer, constructed at a cost of Rs. 3.5 crore, would go a long way in meeting the growing power demand in South Delhi.

It will provide the required reliability in the system besides meeting the growing power requirement of areas like Okhla, Masjid Moth, Malviya Nagar, Alaknanda, Nehru Place, East of Kailash, Greater Kailash and Kalkaji. He said under the leadership of Ms.Dikshit, the Power Department had increased its capacity by 1,000 MVA during the last eight months.

Not only this, he said with the aim to provide more power during this summer, more transformers were going to be installed in Subzi Mandi, Patparganj and Pappankalan. He said with the completion of the Bamnauli-Ballabgarh grid, additional 400 MW power would be available for the Capital.

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