PRINCE KUMAR
Ranchi, April 26: Reports of power shortages across the state are trickling in as coal inventories hit the lowest pre-summer levels in nine years triggering blackouts.
Even after producing 4200 MW of electricity, Jharkhand is yearning for only 200 to 300 MW of electricity. Load shedding is happening for 5 to 14 hours across the state and near about 5 to 8 hours in the capital city. The entire city is troubled day and night due to load shedding in this scorching heat.
Jharkhand generally requires 2200 MW of electricity, but the electricity demand has reached 2600 MW in summer, especially during peak hours.
According to Avinash Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Energy, there is a shortage of 250 to 300 MW of power in Jharkhand these days.
To overcome this, Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) is buying electricity from power plants according to the power purchasing agreement, but electricity is not available according to demand.
It is not that there is a shortage of electricity in Jharkhand. Electricity is being generated on a large scale here. The electricity generated in other states of Jharkhand is getting illuminated with so much electricity and Jharkhand is living in darkness.
The total power generation capacity from power plants in Jharkhand is 4825 MW of electricity per day. More than 4240 MW of electricity is also being generated every day, but the state is getting only 1240 MW from the power generated in Jharkhand. Rest 3000 MW power is being sent to other states.
In Jharkhand, DVC is generating 2000 MW of electricity, out of which only 600 MW goes to Jharkhand, while the rest 1400 MW goes to Delhi and Punjab. While 1000 MW of electricity is produced from Maithon Power Limited, this electricity goes to Kerala, Delhi and Punjab, as Jharkhand does not have a power purchase agreement with this company.
Jharkhand gets 190 MW from Adhunik Power, 55 MW from Inland Power, 350 MW from TVNL and 490 MW from NTPC.
As the demand for electricity increases, JBVNL is supplying electricity by purchasing power from National Power Exchange at the rate of Rs 12 per unit.
