Considering the power situation in the State, a think tank on Wednesday brainstormed to find a lasting solution to the crucial infrastructure problem that is at the base of the power crisis in the State. The seminar organised by the NCFC media in association with The Pioneer deliberated upon why the situation is so gloomy despite the State having been blessed with all kinds of natural resources.
Pointing out the bottlenecks, SN Verma, CMD of JUVNl said that lot more attention is required in the field of distribution besides, pulling shocks on recovery of dues. He at the same time also defended the power tariff the discom is charging from industrial and domestic consumers.
“I think claims of DVC on dues are not fully justified in the light of the rate they supply power to us. We get power at the rate of Rs 4 and sell it to our users at Rs2.90.
Also, they just supply high tension lines, mainly to industries and whose payment is reliable, whereas we bear the pain of supplying domestic consumers. We are collecting over Rs 35 crore of loss in the DVC command area. We need to look things in right perspective,” said Verma.
On the part of reform, the CMD said that Jharkhand needed a jacket of power transmission lines and the power company related to distribution is working on as many as 10 such power grids across the State. On the power production, Verma said that 1320 MW power plant is coming in power starved Palamu at Bavnathpur and no problem related to land, coal or water is there. “Besides, we have 10 independent power producers working with us which is gift for the State,” he said
While former president of FJCCI Bikash Singh objected to it and pointed towards scarcity and problem related to getting land acquired for setting up new power plants and get the coal allocated in the recent scenario. Director of Aadhunik Group Sachin Agarwal also pointed out that the land hurdle and local law and order situation are big obstacles for the power sector in the State. “In the new scenario it is getting more difficult,” said he.
The panelists also hinted towards having alternate sources of power like in the form of solar and wind energy which can be a backbone for rural and far flung areas of the State. Most parts of the State has serious problem of connectivity and taking power there through grid is very difficult a task.
The speakers were in agreement that the State has huge untapped potential for generating power along with the challenges and a strong decision making system can only deal with the scenario.