The capital is a city of many dubious firsts, one of which is its poor power management in relation to India's other metros.
With less than 1,500 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, the present gap between electricity demand and supply comes as a shocker.
Delhi's demand for power has touched peak levels of 3,300 MW, of which about 2,200 MW is imported from northern and eastern regions.
Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses in the capital, at 40 per cent, are way ahead of other metros Mumbai leads the way with 11 per cent, while even Kolkata (19 per cent), Chennai (16 per cent) and Bangalore (16 per cent) are better off.
The writing is on the wall: The situation needs to be remedied in 1,500 days. There is no indication that Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has grasped the gravity of the situation.
She has opposed a hike in power tariffs, recommended by the regulator, perhaps fearing a backlash from irate consumers who are tired of sweating it out.
The chief minister should leave tariffs to the regulator, and instead ensure that Delhi develops the capacity to meet present and projected demand. While the city's installed capacity is 1,700 MW, its power plants are too old for their capacity utilisation to exceed 750 MW.
Delhi's population has exploded over the decade, while its power infrastructure remains quite the same. As for T&D losses, the city could learn some lessons from the management practices of more efficient electricity boards and corporations, such as Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
While it is true that the heat conditions in northern states and floods in other parts have contributed to the present demand-supply gap in electricity, this should not detract from the absence of long-term planning in the power sector.
The government should factor in contingencies when it draws up power generation plans. For the economy to grow at 8 per cent and manufacturing at 12 per cent, reliable power supply is a must. Supply and demand issues should be addressed simultaneously.
Consumers would be willing to pay a higher tariff for power, provided they are convinced of its quality and reliability.
Higher tariffs would, in fact, promote energy efficiency in commercial enterprises and households, and trigger technological innovation in consumer and industrial goods.
In the short term, the Centre should restrain northern states from drawing more than their share from the national grid, which pushes the grid to the point of collapse, and make them pay up their dues to electricity boards.
Delhi would have to show the way, to enable the Centre to get tough with other states
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1933551,curpg-1.cms
With less than 1,500 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, the present gap between electricity demand and supply comes as a shocker.
Delhi's demand for power has touched peak levels of 3,300 MW, of which about 2,200 MW is imported from northern and eastern regions.
Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses in the capital, at 40 per cent, are way ahead of other metros Mumbai leads the way with 11 per cent, while even Kolkata (19 per cent), Chennai (16 per cent) and Bangalore (16 per cent) are better off.
The writing is on the wall: The situation needs to be remedied in 1,500 days. There is no indication that Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit has grasped the gravity of the situation.
She has opposed a hike in power tariffs, recommended by the regulator, perhaps fearing a backlash from irate consumers who are tired of sweating it out.
The chief minister should leave tariffs to the regulator, and instead ensure that Delhi develops the capacity to meet present and projected demand. While the city's installed capacity is 1,700 MW, its power plants are too old for their capacity utilisation to exceed 750 MW.
Delhi's population has exploded over the decade, while its power infrastructure remains quite the same. As for T&D losses, the city could learn some lessons from the management practices of more efficient electricity boards and corporations, such as Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
While it is true that the heat conditions in northern states and floods in other parts have contributed to the present demand-supply gap in electricity, this should not detract from the absence of long-term planning in the power sector.
The government should factor in contingencies when it draws up power generation plans. For the economy to grow at 8 per cent and manufacturing at 12 per cent, reliable power supply is a must. Supply and demand issues should be addressed simultaneously.
Consumers would be willing to pay a higher tariff for power, provided they are convinced of its quality and reliability.
Higher tariffs would, in fact, promote energy efficiency in commercial enterprises and households, and trigger technological innovation in consumer and industrial goods.
In the short term, the Centre should restrain northern states from drawing more than their share from the national grid, which pushes the grid to the point of collapse, and make them pay up their dues to electricity boards.
Delhi would have to show the way, to enable the Centre to get tough with other states
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1933551,curpg-1.cms