Govt strikes power deal with Himachal Pradesh

NEW DELHI, January 24: The Union Power Minister, P.R. Kumaramangalam's, prediction that there would be power riots in Delhi'' in the co...

NEW DELHI, January 24: The Union Power Minister, P.R. Kumaramangalam’s, prediction that there would be “power riots in Delhi” in the coming summer, has galvanised the state government into action. It has finalised a deal for buying 100 MW of power from Himachal Pradesh.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said: “The Himachal Pradesh government is willing to supply us with power as they have surplus electricity. A team from Delhi was in Shimla to finalise the deal. The contract will be signed by early February.”

Delhi Power Minister Narendra Nath said he will be going to Himachal Pradesh in the first week of February. “We have agreed to their terms and conditions and also the mode of payment they have suggested.”

Already facing a severe supply crunch, the Delhi Vidyut Board’s (DVB) shortfall is likely cross 300 MW by April. The Delhi government was forced to stretch the funds of the already cash-strapped DVB to buy more power at the rate of Rs 2.20 per unit.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal is said have agreed to give power to Delhi, provided the Delhi government gives them a guarantee that it will make regular monthly payments and take action against defaulters.“To check pilferage and accelerate revenue collection, the DVB has started providing tamper-proof electronic meters in the industrial areas. The facility will be extended to residential areas as well,” Dikshit said.

The electricity supply from Himachal Pradesh will be routed through the Badarpur grid. Asked why the government is waiting till April, Nath said, “We need to equip our system to access the extra electricity supply. The grid has to be upgraded.”

The Delhi government is also planning to buy 60-80 MW of power from the eastern grid in a bid to ease the acute power crisis. The power supply from the eastern grid is slightly more expensive than that from the northern grid, Delhi’s traditional power supplier.