If we have to believe the department officials then the gap between demand and supply of electricity will started reducing as the power generation is likely to get impetus as the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries have started melting in the mountainous parts of the State.
Although power generation is hovering around nine million units of electricity through state run hydro power projects, the closure of Maneri Bhalli-II and Kalagarh hydro power projects is also one of the reasons for widen gap between the demand and supply of electricity in the State. The status of power generation could be gauged by the fact the power generation in the State run hydro power project has touched double digit figure on March, 12, 18, 19 and 20 and the maximum power generation 11.84 million unit was reported on March 19.
Although Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam limited (UJVNl) has generated 277.10 million units of electricity in the last month but the aggregate of power generation was reported around nine million units. It is also equally important to mention here is that the state faced the shortage of nearly 11 million units in the last month. Well established sources revealed that the hydro power projects operating in the mountainous parts of the state also faced the brunt of natural calamities that rocked the entire state in the month of June, last year.
While speaking to The Pioneer, an official spokesman, Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) told that Managing Director SS Yadav regularly gives instructions to the officials for curtailing line loss in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the state in order to meet with the demand of electricity in the state. After claiming that the department has been regularly procuring electricity from private electricity generators through tender, he told that department is also procuring two to three million units of electricity from open market per day.
One of the department sources from UJVNl who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that the work for renovation, modernisation and upgradation in the hydro power projects is already completed for ensuring the optimum power generation. He claimed that the power generation is likely to increase once the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries have started melting in the near future.
He told department has been continuously working for repairing damaged and replacing obsolete machines in order to increase the power generation for ensuring to meet with the demand of electricity in the State.