Dry spell causes concern to Govt.

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, AUG. 9. The prolonged dry spell pushing Gujarat on the threshold of yet another severe drought is causing concern to the government.

The chief minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, told media persons that the State Cabinet at its meeting here today took stock of the situation arising out of the absence of the second round of rainfall after the first spell in the middle of last month.

The immediate impact had been on the power situation as demands from the farm sector was rising rapidly. There had been a 33 per cent increase on the demand on power requirement - from 99.42 million units on July 17 to 133.50 million units at present.

The state was facing a shortfall of 900 MW of power and was taking steps to tie up with the southern, eastern and northern power grids for the supply of 600 MW including about 200 MW surplus power expected to become available from the private captive power projects in the state.

The Cabinet, Mr. Patel said, decided to give top priority to the farm sector to save the standing crops, and if necessary, impose power restrictions including staggering of holidays on the industrial sector to meet the power demand from the farmers if rainfall was further delayed. However, he said, he was informed by the central weather bureau that the State could hope to receive heavy showers in the next three to four days under the impact of the depression over the Bay of Bengal which would considerably ease the situation.

As an immediate measure, the existing power plants which were shut down for the routine maintenance during the monsoon were being recommissioned on an emergency basis. A 200 MW power generating unit was recommissioned at the Gandhinagar power plant yesterday and one more unit was expected to resume generation tomorrow to bridge the shortfall.

He said a meeting of the senior officials of the concerned departments were held to review the situation arising out of the prolonged delay in rainfall. ``We are ready to meet any eventuality in case monsoon continued to elude the state,'' Mr Patel said.

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Section  : Other States
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