| As the hot Indian summer progresses, the nation and | | | | Oil and Natural Gas Commission's Tripura based |
| the people in the northern plains and a large part of | | | | project, and also some power from the Tala and |
| the Southern Peninsula writhe in the heat, looking for | | | | Kiruchu hydro electric projects of Bhutan and Assam. |
| respite and electricity to carry on with the business | | | | Charging the public sector ONGC and Oil India Limited |
| of nation building. | | | | for failing to supply committed gas for power |
| That just about happens and many times it may not | | | | generation in Assam and Gogoi said as a result of |
| as was noticed in Uttar Pradesh only days after | | | | that generation in the Namrup thermal power station |
| Bahujan Samaj party government assumed political | | | | (TPS) and Lakwa TPS as well as Kathalguri TPS of |
| power in there. the situation in Assam was no better. | | | | North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have |
| Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati after assuming | | | | suffered badly. |
| office hinted at increasing power tariff asked state | | | | Media report from Maharashtra gives the same kind |
| government offices to switch on CFLs bridging the | | | | of picture that shows progress of small and medium |
| demand-supply gap. | | | | industry in severely hampered by power shortage. |
| The industrial units in Uttar Pradesh are not sure if | | | | In this state, where industry is reeling under the |
| the situation will change very soon after the Mulayam | | | | savage power cuts, which amounts to two days of |
| Singh government was booted out. | | | | forced shut down of production, the peak shortfall |
| The Bahujan Samaj party did not even have a | | | | last estimated, was a whopping 5,085mw. The total |
| manifesto in the election. But entrepreneur in the | | | | demand in power in the state with the exclusion of |
| state admit that the situation cannot get worse than | | | | Mumbai, is about 15,000mw, through the total |
| when Mulayam Singh ruled, because during his rule, | | | | generation is only about 9,840mw. |
| there was not even recognition of the fact industry | | | | The small scale industry association is up in arms as |
| was suffering hugely because of crippling power | | | | they find that government twiddling its thumbs when |
| shortage. | | | | it comes to adding capacity or set up any new |
| Noting that the state was passing through a serious | | | | power project. The last major project in the state |
| power crisis, Mayawati said the demand for power | | | | was that of Enron, which till late was mired in |
| had risen to 8500 mw while supply was confined to | | | | controversy. |
| 6500 mw. She said that different power sector | | | | Maharashtra's Dabhol project which has been in |
| utilities in the state had incurred a loss of Rs 5500 | | | | disputes ever since its concept was floated and the |
| crores till last year, creating a financial crisis. | | | | delays have cost the state dearly. In the middle of |
| Industry sources in up say it had an installed capacity | | | | May this year, the state chief minister was |
| of just 4000 mw while gap between the demand | | | | summoned by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to |
| and supply is about 1800 mw. The UP government | | | | Delhi for an urgent discussion on the power situation |
| had stated some months ago that 7000 mw | | | | in the state and ways to mitigate it. |
| generation capacity in the state are in various stages | | | | The Centre agreed to bail out the state partly by |
| of completion. What irks industry in UP is that power | | | | promising to give additional 2,600mw power during |
| cuts in UP is the attitude of the state government. | | | | the next one year, according to chief minister |
| In Assam, a drought like situation leading to poor | | | | Vilasrao Deshmukh. Essentially, the plan for the state |
| hydropower generation and a weak distribution | | | | is to provide coal linkages for Koradi and Chandrapur |
| network have led to the state facing the worst ever | | | | power plants which together have a capacity of |
| power crises, prompting the state government to | | | | 2,400mw and for the expansion project of Parali, |
| approach neighbouring states as well as the Himalaya | | | | Paras and Bhusawal station in the state. |
| kingdom of Bhutan for power supply. | | | | In a country where about 20 percent production |
| Already facing a shortage crisis, it had been | | | | losses can be attributed to power shortage, surely |
| compounded with a prolonged dry spell. Chief minister | | | | there is much too done and regained, to upgrade |
| Tarun Gogoi in a SOS to the centre recently | | | | economic and industrial abilities. |
| requested for immediate allocation of 400 mw from | | | | |