The Hindu : New Delhi News : Flash floods will not lead to power crisis: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 13, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Flash floods will not lead to power crisis: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 12. Dispelling fears about any kind of power crisis hitting the Capital in the event of flash floods in Himachal Pradesh, Delhi's Power Minister, Haroon Yusuf, today said the Capital not only had adequate but surplus power at its disposal. Even if some power project shuts down in Himachal Pradesh, Delhi will not stand affected in any way as was being made out by certain sections, he added.

Mr. Yusuf said though the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Power Project had not been operating for the past five days, Delhi was still able to meet the demand for power.

At the same time, he pointed out that Nathpa Jhakri project was not the sole supplier of power to Delhi or the Northern Grid and there was no cause for panic or concern.

The Power Minister said Northern Grid had adequate power and it was not solely dependent on Himachal Pradesh for supply therefore there was no scope for any crisis in the Capital on this front.

The Nathpa Jhakri project became operation only a few months ago and till then Delhi had adequate power supply from other sources.

The Government tied up with Nathpa Jhakri project authorities in order to ensure that standby arrangements were in place in case of any emergency. Delhi was not dependent on this project for its power supply, he asserted.

Further, Mr. Yusuf said all other major power projects of Himachal Pradesh did not come in the line of the flash floods and therefore supply from them would continue at the present rate.

For instance, the Chamera Project was located at Chamba, which did not come in way of the flash floods and was nowhere connected to the Sutlej river.

Similarly, Mr. Yusuf informed that Delhi did not receive any supply from the Parvati Power Project as it was still in the execution stage and was not generating any power.

It will take another five to eight years for power to flow from Parvati Power Project and to state that Delhi would be hit hard by its closure was only aimed at creating panic among the residents of the city.

Similarly, Mr.Yusuf explained that the recent rainfall in North India had eased the demand for power from the agricultural sector and therefore there was no pressure on the Northern Grid that could lead to any kind of breakdown or fall in frequency levels.

"In fact, we have been under-drawing our share of power in view of the fall in demand. We are ready to meet any kind of demand as Delhi is presently surplus by nearly 500 MW as far as power situation is concerned,'' he added.

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