Lok Sabha polls 2014: Load shedding has Assam CM Tarun Gogoi worried

GUWAHATI: With Six lok Sabha constituencies of Assam going to polls on April 24 and huge load shedding in the state, worried Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asks power utility of Assam to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the state.

In a unusual move, Gogoi reviewed the power position with Chairman, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Rajiv Yadav on Monday.

Gogoi asked Yadav to take immediate steps to meet the shortfall of power. Yadav apprised the Chief Minister that due to drought-like conditions prevailing in the North East Region, Assam is not receiving adequate power from hydro power generating stations viz., Ranganadi, Kopili, Khandong, Doyang, Loktak etc. due to low water level in the reservoirs.

This has created a shortfall of about 275 MW. Yadav said that the State — now mostly dependent on thermal stations at Kathalguri, Palatana, Ramachandranagar, Namrup and Lakwa — is receiving only 230 MW due to poor availability of gas. This has created a further shortfall of 250 MW.

Yadav said APDCL is trying to meet the huge shortfall by procuring 300 MW from outside the region. Yadav said the power position is likely to improve with rainfall in the region and further production of gas.

The current demand for power in the Assam is about 1,300 megawatt (MW) at peak load out of which there is an average shortage of about 250 MW. The per-capita power consumption in Assam at a meager 290 kilowatt hour (KWh) is far below national average of 890 KWh per capita. Assam is mainly dependent on hydro generations for its power requirement. This is about 60% of the total existing availability. Most of these hydro generators are sourced through Run on River (RoR) which are solely dependent on the rainfall in the respective catchments areas.