Delhi,dry & dark

By late Friday evening,the Union power ministry got into action to tackle the situation by putting out an appeal requesting all government offices in the National Capital Region to “restrict consumption of electricity during the day”. The ministry’s statement asked government offices to reduce use of “high power-consuming electrical gadgets,especially air-conditioners,till the spread of monsoon”.

Dikshit,who also holds the power portfolio,called it a “complicated issue”. She told Newsline on Saturday: “The quantum of power consumption has gone beyond our anticipation. Consumption has increased by 20 per cent since last summer,and we have to meet that additional demand. I spoke to the Union Power Minister (Sushil Kumar Shinde) today — we have been assured that starting today Delhi will get an additional 150 MW from the central unallocated pool.

“That should bring some relief.”

Dikshit also held a meeting with top officials from all power distribution companies (discoms) operating in Delhi and said they have to procure additional power at all costs to meet Delhi’s rising demand.

While Finance Minister A K Walia reportedly met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today,sources in the CM’s office said it was to discuss the budget and that power was not on the agenda.

“I have studied the situation all day and the picture that emerged is BSES is drawing more power than NDPL,NDMC and MES,” Dikshit said. “This is because BSES supplies to South Delhi areas,where demand is the highest. I have told discoms to coordinate with the State Load Dispatch centre where power trading takes place daily.”

Dikshit said the discoms have been “advised” to purchase power from the Southern states,where demand is low at present. “We will divide power equally among all discoms from the Central quota,but they need to procure additional power a day ahead — the consumers should not suffer.”

Dikshit added that BSES has promised to procure 200 MW from Uttaranchal on Monday.

Dikshit said she also addressed the issue of infrastructure in the meeting. “Rotational loadshedding,as a rule,is one hour at any given time in any area. But consumers are being subjected to powercuts of up to five hours due to local faults.

“I have advised discoms to repair all local faults. I have told them citizens of Delhi cannot suffer five-hour-long powercuts due to their inefficiency. I will personally monitor the situation.”

Dikshit also appealed to the citizens to conserve power in this crisis situation. “We have advised shops to close early and not use neon lights,” she said. “Big hotels and malls have been told to run their cooling system at 24 to 25 degrees,as opposed to 18; this will help reduce the load.”

SLEEPLESS ON SATURDAY

PEAK DEMAND: 4218 MW at 2.35 pm

SHORTAGE: 400 MW (APPROX)

WORST AFFECTED: Laxmi Nagar,Mayur Vihar,Patparganj,CR Park,Safdarjung,South Extension Part-I,Greater Kailash,Dwarka,Janakpuri,Vikaspuri,Uttam Nagar

SOME RELIEF:

* CM Sheila Dikshit says Power Minister Shinde has “assured” Delhi will get additional 150 MW from central unallocated pool

* BSES promises to procure 200 MW from Uttaranchal on Monday,says CM