Power shortage at Games looms over ministry

The good news is that there will be no significant power shortfall during the Commonwealth Games 2010. But the bad news is, the government will still fall short of its power target for the October event. Only about 2,500 mw or one-third of the intended power capacity addition target of 7,100 mwenvisaged for this mega event is likely to be met.

And even this watered down target of 2,500 mw is on thin ice and there is a race against time to meet the deadline. As a result, Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has stepped on the accelerator to make sure that at least this 2,500 mw power capacity is in place.

“The minister has asked all agencies to work day and night to make sure that there is no further slippage in the schedule of these (2,500 mw) projects,” stated the minutes of the July 13 review meeting (a copy of which is available with the Hindustan Times) by Shinde.

Coming to the ministry’s rescue, a senior official said, “Even amid these slippages, we will ensure that the electricity needs for the Commonwealth Games are met.”

“The targets were set to push power projects in the name of the Commonwealth Games. But you need to look at the good side of it which is that there will be no shortages.”

While state-owned power major NTPC has announced commissioning of the two units of Dadri power projects, which will make 1,000 mw available for Delhi’s mega event, the completion of the Loni sub-station (critical for evacuation of power) is still pending.

Officials said the Delhi Transco Ltd (DTL) has indicated that land for the substation has been finalised but a part of it is under litigation.

“The DTL is aware of the issue for the past three years and not much seems to have been done.”

However, Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta has assured that he will look into the matter personally and resolve it.