VARIOUS OPTIONS TO TACKLE POWER DEMAND DURING CURRENT DROUGHT
SITUATION: POWER MINISTER
The Minister of Power Shri Suresh Prabhu said here
today while inaugurating the meeting of Power Ministers of States
on the strategy to tackle power demand during the current drought
situation, that various options would be finalized to overcome
this situation. Ministers from all the states except the North
Eastern region are attending the daylong conference.
Shri Prabhu said this year’s drought is a massive
challenge faced by the power sector because demand is relentlessly
increasing. Adding to the challenge the Minister said is the fact
that power is one commodity that cannot be imported in a drought
situation.
The Minister flagged off various options and issues
that would be discussed at the daylong conference. These include
the possible increase in generation from thermal and nuclear sources
of power. The impact on the finances of State Electricity Boards
(SEBs) due to the reduction in generation from hydel power which
is cheaper compared to thermal power. Strategies to increase the
Plant Load Factor (PLF) of thermal plants, an action plan for
repairs and maintenance of units on a war footing. The Minister
said if states came forward with concrete suggestions for specific
units, which they would like to take up for repairs and maintenance
the Power Finance Corporations (PFC) and Rural Electrification
Corporation (REC) would be willing to help. The Minister felt
that the strategies to tackle the drought would have to be taken
on a regional basis. Shri Prabhu said as some States in the Southern
region such as Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
which largely depend on hydel sources for power generation, are
today facing severe difficulties. The Minister specifically referred
to Kerala where reservoirs are down by 34 per cent. On the other
hand, while the North faces a drought like situation. Reservoirs
are at a much higher level this year, due to the increased melting
of snow in their catchments areas.
Other issues which could be discussed are staggering
of office hours across the country to reduce peak level shortages
bringing in power produced by independent power plants the unused
generation in the North-East which is about 100-200 MW and Jammu
and Kashmir -105 MW, use of 24,000 MW of captive power, energy
conservation and demand size management, the Minister stated conservation
need the start with the Central Government where efforts should
be made to reduce consumption in offices.
The Chief Guest, the Chief Minister of Haryana Shri
Om Prakash Chautala said the country should exploit its hydel
sources to satisfy increasing demand while the Minister of State
for Power Smt. Jayawanti Mehta in her remarks emphasized on needs
to come up with workable options in the current situation.
The Director General of the Indian Meteorological
Department, Dr. R.R. Kelkar gave a snap shot view of the current
drought situation. Dr. Kelkar said as of 31st July
the deficit in rainfall was about 30 per cent and a similar situation
was faced by the country thrice before, this was in 1918, 1972
and 1987.
However, Dr. Kelkar said that as of today the situation
is slightly better with rains in Maharashtra, East Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. With the shift in the monsoon trough
from the foothills of the Himalayas southwards, rains could be
expected by the weekend in the North, he said.
