Despite the fact that Uttarakhand has huge potential to generate electricity through State-run hydro power projects, the State faced a crunch of nearly 8.4 million units of electricity last month.
The power scenario was so bad that even after withdrawing electricity from the private players and State’s share from the neighbouring States, the department was forced to implement load shedding upto four hours in a day and those who are living in the remote areas of the State are among the worst sufferers.
The latest data compiled by the department clearly highlighted that the gross energy availability in the State was 27.0226 million units against the gross demand of 35.443 million units; thus, causing shortfall of nearly 8.4217 million units of electricity in the State. The Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (UJVNl) generated 15.4226 million units of electricity on average and the maximum output (17.9770 million units of electricity) was generated only once on May, 13. Additionally, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) continued to receive 1.4309 million units and 0.6708 million units of electricity on average basis from Himachal Pradesh and Vishnuprayag hydro power projects.
With an aim to meet with the demand of electricity in the state, UPCl got its share of 12.3600 million units of electricity on an average from the Central Sector Generating Stations.
Interestingly, the demand of electricity was maximum (38.05million units) on May, 25. The maximum shortage of electricity that was faced by the department was 12.735 million units of electricity on May 7 when the demand of electricity was 35.8190 million units against the availability of 23.0840 million units. That the department had faced the shortage of nearly 261.073 million units of electricity in the last month.
Well-established department sources from UJVNl said that the rate of power generation will improve in the coming days when the proposed work of renovation, up-gradation and modernization completes in the near future. He claimed that the department has already drafted the plans and instructions were already released to officials to meet with the target for the electricity generation in present financial year.
One of the department sources from UPCl, who wished anonymity, told The Pioneer that the poorer power generation is among the major reason for the acute shortfall of the electricity in the State. “The demand of electricity normally increases several times during summer and the department procures electricity from the private players in order to meet with the growing demand of electricity in the state,” he said, adding that department has already concurred with the private players who are into the business of power generation to sell electricity to Uttarakhand during its lean time.