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Centre admits to power deficit

NEW DELHI: With the entire country faced with a precarious power situation, the government has admitted to a “gap” in the demand and supply position. Power cuts, violent protests, unscheduled load shedding and black outs in many parts of the country are likely to continue for some time.

According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) figures up to May 2010, the country faced a shortage of 10 per cent power in terms of energy and 12.3 per cent in terms of peak power. Despite monsoon setting in, the demand for power is likely to go up with kharif sowing season in full swing and rise in humidity levels.

So severe is the power shortage that Delhi and Mumbai witnessed violent protests by consumers against the long power cuts and unscheduled load shedding. Many States were forced to undertake power cuts for the domestic as well as industrial consumers. Some even asked shop owners to down shutters early, put restrictions on use of neon signs and high voltage.

In the northern region, the total peak demand during April-May stood at 32,223 MW but only 28,075 MW was available leading to a deficit of 4148 MW. The western region’s demand during this period was 36315 MW against the availability of 30031 MW, a deficit of 5284 MW. In the southern region, the demand was 29216 MW against the availability of 26369 MW leading to a deficit of 2847 MW. The demand in the eastern region was 12913 MW against the availability of 11610 MW, a deficit of 1303 MW. As for the north-east, the demand was 1569 MW against supply of 1342 MW, a deficit of 227 MW.

Countrywide, the demand was 110958 MW against a supply of 97355 MW, a deficit of 13603 MW. “The power generation is not adequate to meet the total requirement and one of the reasons for the shortage is growth in demand for electricity outstripping growth in generation and capacity addition,” according to Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki.

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