GEB may impose cut on industry

Even at the Cabinet Press briefing, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel said Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) might be directed to impose cuts on industries if the situation demanded so. “We have asked GEB to maintain regular supply for 16 hours every day to the agriculture sector. We will even consider round-the-clock power supply to save kharif crops”, the Chief Minister said.

Khodabhai Patel said the power generation was recorded at 5,200 MW on Wednesday as against the total requirement of 5,600 MW, registering a shortfall of 400 MW. Besides, the State cannot borrow power from Maharashtra at least till the next three to four days because of the breakdown of its two units of 500 MW each.

The Cabinet reviewed the situation as monsoon played truant for over a fortnight, threatening kharif crops as well as the government’s ambitious action plan for a 10 per cent increase in the kharif harvest this year.

Agriculture Minister Nitin Patel has written to Minister of State for Energy Kaushik Patel, requesting him to ensure adequate power (at least 12 hours a day) to help ryots save kharif crops, particularly groundnut and paddy. He admitted that the prospects would be bleak if rain was delayed by another one week or so.

Asked, the Agriculture Minister said the groundnut was sown in 18.61 lakh hectares as against in 18.44 lakh hectares the previous year, while cotton was sown in 16.46 lakh hectares as against 14.33 lakh hectares the last season.

At the Cabinet meeting, Civil Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh also expressed concern over the delayed monsoon and felt that adequate power supply must be maintained to save the groundnut crop, else the prices of the edible oil might soar.

At Vadodara, GEB member (administration) S K Nanda did not rule out cuts, saying GEB had not been getting 1,000 MW from the western grid in Maharashtra.

“The Board has not taken any decision yet, but cut may be imposed if needed”, he said, adding GEB would try to maintain a balance between the supply to the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Nanda said the supply from Maharashtra was likely to be restored within the next two days. The GEB supply has been affected also because some of its units are shut for annual overhaul. The Board, however, received 300 MW on Thursday.

If needed, GEB would start hydropower stations which would fetch about 300 MW. As per rules, these stations could be operated only in emergency as certain level remains to be maintained in the rivers.