The crisis-ridden Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (MPSEB) has once again decided to reduce power supply to the various parts of the state.
In a proposal submitted here by S K Dasgupta, chairman of MPSEB, to the state government, it has been decided to slash power supply by 4 hours for industries and district headquarters, 5 hours for tehsil headquarters and 3 hours for commissionary cities.
"This would help government ensure six-hour power supply during the kharif season,'' said the proposal. The chief minister Digvijay Singh had organised a cabinet committee meeting here Tuesday evening on this score.
Dasgupta told the cabinet the state is producing only 3,400 mw of power which includes 1,700 mw from thermal power units, 400 mw from hydro power units and 1330 mw from the Central government's power production units. On demand he said, "the state has a demand of 5000 mw.''
MPSEB's per unit recovery is lowest in the Ujjain district, at Rs 1.05 per unit, while it is the highest in Rewa district, at Rs 2.04 per unit.
A highly placed state official, on the condition of anonymity, told Business Standard that the power scenario in the state is more grim than what data shows.
He said the demand as on September 10, 2001, was 4,300 mw (in minimum demand conditions), while availability was only 2,900 mw. On September 11, the demand slipped to 4,000 mw, while production increased to 3,260 mw. Thus, he said, the demand is hovering around 4,000-4,500 mw, while availability stood between 2,700 mw and 3,200 mw.
The source also said power production in the state has never exceeded 3,250 mw against a demand of 5,600 mw during peak hours.
Humid conditions can aggravate the demand further and it can go up to 6,000 mw in the coming days, according to the source.
When queried on this, state energy minister Hukum Singh Karada told Business Standard: "The data presented by the chairman S K Dasgupta are official and we know the exact power situation. We are making efforts to ensure at least 6 hours power supply in the state. We are in discussion with a Russian company to set up a 500 mw plant in the state and National Thermal Power Corporation is also likely to set up a new plant. But this is under consideration.''
