If one believes the State power department, then the power scenario in Uttarakhand has improved in comparison to the last year.
The roasting limit has decreased in current year despite the fact that the State power department is reeling under the acute shortage of electricity in Uttarakhand. Officials claimed that department has been continuously procuring electricity in order to meet with demand of electricity in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand. The latest data compiled by the State power department clearly highlighted that 52.76 million units of electricity was the deficit in October last year which has reduced to 30.08 million units of electricity in the last month, present year.
Similarly, department did roasting of 46.61 million units of electricity in month of November, last year, which now reduced to 38.47 million units of electricity till date in the present month. It is also equally important to mention here is that the electricity generation in the State run hydro power projects is hovering around seven million units in the State thus causing huge deficit to the department.
In comparison to the gross demand of electricity in the State which is hovering around 30-32 million units of electricity, the State power department is managed to get 28-30 million units of electricity thus causing deficit of nearly two to three million units of electricity on regular basis. Additionally, non functioning of turbines at Kalagarh and Khatima hydro power projects has increased the plight of the power distribution agency to meet with the demand of electricity in the State. The State power department is also strictly following four hours of compulsory power roasting in the Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts of the State for overcoming the deficit electricity in the State.
While speaking to The Pioneer, Madhusudan, an official spokesman, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) said that department has been procuring electricity from the private electricity generators in order to meet with demand of the electricity in the State. The vigilance cell of the department has been keeping a tight noose on unauthorized electricity consumers in order to curtail the line loss and further claimed that it has helped the department to meet with the demand of the electricity in the State.
Madhusudan further told that the department has already concurred with private firms to procure electricity in order to meet with the demand of electricity across the State. He claimed roasting would be the last option in the department to meet with the demand of electricity in the State.