NEW DELHI: Power remains a vexed issue for both politicians and citizens ahead of the assembly polls. In the past five years, the government made several promises, including round-the-clock supply and enhanced internal electricity generation. TOI reviews how well it has kept them.
Generation deficit and gas shortage
In 2008, Delhi generated approximately 1,600MW from five power stations and sourced the rest of its requirement from central sector power stations. New plants—Pragati Power Phase II in Bamnauli and Pragati Power Phase III in Bawana—were due to come up ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Additionally, the Delhi government tied up with Aravali Super Thermal Power Station to get 750 MW.
But the 2010 Games came and went by, and the promised power plants could not start generation. Gas shortage crippled the new plants and, even today, Delhi gets barely 250MW from the 1,500MW power plant in Bawana. The Bamnauli project has been shelved indefinitely.
Discoms like Tata Power (formerly NDPL), meanwhile, tried to supplement generation by setting up their own plants but they were also hit by the gas crisis. The 108MW plant in Rithala was conceived to help the discom source peak power at the height of summer and winter. But ever since it became operational, it has barely produced 10-20% of its installed capacity.
Officials say keeping the plant running with less gas turned out to be costlier than expected. Discoms have also refused to buy power from the Aravali station claiming it is too expensive.
"In reality, generation has hardly improved since 2008. The Indraprastha power plant was shut down and new plants like Bawana can barely produce any power with the gas crisis. Delhi is still forced to procure most of its power from outside states," said an expert.
With thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.
