NEW DELHI: Even as the Capital continues to reel under power cuts, the Delhi Government's Power Department doling out reassuring figures asserts that the saga of power cuts is long over. "The occasional load shedding these days is more out of technical compulsions than economic," it claims.

For all the sufferings of the citizens, the Power Department says the power situation has "improved drastically" in the past few days and there is more relief to come.

The Department also claims that, contrary to the perception that Delhi is eating into its own share to sell power to Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai, efforts are under way to augment the supply.

"The out-of-action unit at Badarpur will start supplying 210 MW from Friday. The discoms are also trying to tap in an additional 100 MW from the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board," a senior Power Department official claimed on Thursday.

"There were problems between April 9 and 13, with frequent power cuts, but all that has changed. Ever since the Chief Minister hauled up the power distribution companies, the conditions have improved and no one can deny that," he said.

Putting the onus on the discoms, he said: "There was some indiscipline on the part of the discoms, but they have been made to come round."

About the continued complaints of power cuts, the official said: "The duration has come down drastically. The data available to us gives an accurate picture of the load shedding. It has been reduced from three hours in some places to an hour."

According to Delhi Transco, the city's peak demand of 3,297 on Thursday was met without any power cuts till noon, a claim that was refuted by residents of South West Delhi where the power cut lasted more than two hours in the morning.

"The total load shedding on Wednesday was 0.23 per cent of the 68.99 MUs energy supplied. The peak load on the system recorded at 3297 MW till 3-45 p.m. was met without any shedding or under frequency since morning," the official said.

Officials maintain that rotational load shedding is being carried out to maintain grid discipline and in areas which are theft-prone.

Also denying the charge that Delhi Transco has failed to book transmission corridors, for transmitting power from other States, officials said: "Only when the power purchase agreements are in place can corridors be booked. We have booked the transmission lines to procure power from Madhya Pradesh in July on Wednesday."

Data

The promising picture has, however, not convinced many: "Their data notwithstanding, power cuts are still being reported. Even last year when the Government claimed there is no shortage and supplemented it with data, the city reeled under a power crisis," said Sanjay Kaul of People's Action, an advocacy group that represents residents' welfare associations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail