By The Editor
In modern days electricity is the most useful energy which has wide applications and its importance is becoming more and more crucial which continues to rise at high rate to meet its growing demand. More developed countries consume greater amount of energy when compared with less developed nations. The gap between the haves and have-nots in international league table is emphasised by considering per capita electricity consumption. Norway, Sweden, Canada and the United States of America (USA) occupy top four places followed by Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom (UK). Comparatively, India and China are still far behind. In general, Latin American countries except Brazil, and African countries except South Africa rank quite far below. Standard of living and energy consumption are co-related and hence for any country to develop and progress it has to generate more electric power. Electricity is so important nowadays even in developing nations so that supply cannot meet demand and hence power-cut and load-shedding have become frequent.
Power minister Abu Taher Mondal recently told reporters that apart from scanty rainfall, which is affecting power supply, the state is also having some other unavoidable factors such as shutdown of important power projects like Khandong and Kopili Hydro Electric Projects. Meanwhile power projects in the state are also down due to renovation and repair as the machineries have become quite old. Consequently, load-shedding is unavoidable but the minister assured that steps are being taken on priority basis to ease problems. As it is, Meghalaya requires 200 million units whereas supply is only 88 million units, state’s own generation being 16 million units augmented by central share of 72 million units, and hence there is still shortfall of 112 units for which the state has to find out ways and means. In spite of all these constraints, government is trying its best to provide relief to consumers. Hopefully dry spell is coming to a close and monsoon is approaching and so there will be power surplus which can be supplied to neighbouring states thus earning good revenue. Obviously the spirit of give-and-take should prevail so that when state is facing shortage during lean period then adjacent states should come to the rescue. Mondal hopes for some solutions like renewable energy and thermal plants which rely on coal. He admitted that nearly every memorandum of understanding with independent power producers had so far proved futile.
Situation in the country as a whole is no different either as dry weather affects power supply, but with approaching rainy season power supply will be quite normal and hence people have to suffer only for few weeks more. However, due to surge in demand which continues to rise the government has to find ways and means to meet shortages. Coal-fired plants have been stressed to operate more units on full capacities and also at the same time National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ltd has been requested to supplement power needs.