For the first time in the history of power
sector, the Centre Government has indulged in an exercise of making a well
documented and intensively comprehensive “Long Term Distribution Plan” to
attack supply side constraints of the power sector to enable India access 24X7
power supply, especially all in its rural pockets, according to Director,
Ministry of Power, Mr. Vishal Kapoor.
Mr. Kapoor who was speaking at a National
Conference on Power Transmission & Distribution under aegis of PHD Chamber
of Commerce and Industry here today added that the Union Power Ministry has
already assigned this task on Central Electricity Authority (CEA) that would
finish off preliminary work on it in next 3-4 months.
According to him, the CEA would initiate this
exercise with intense interactions with all states, UTs including centre and
other such stakeholders by addressing the issues relating to transformers,
sub-stations and the like with existing and available technologies so that the
power availability in India’s rural landscapes and its every nook and corner is
not questioned.
He held that Union Power Ministry in the past
came out with several documented details relating to generation, distribution
power theft and whole lot of other policy issues but never made an attempt to
document a long term detailed plans addressing challenges of distribution side
of the power sector.
It is for the first time, this exercise is
being undertaken, the sole objective of which is to make sure that India and
its rural areas are fed with uninterrupted power supply under the present
regime, the focus of which is to not only satisfy the power consumers with
quality power but also to bring out the DISCOMS that’s financial health is
under severe crisis out of their present mess, felt Mr. Kapoor.
With the launch of UDAY, the conditions and
health of power distribution utilities have begun to improve significantly
since its take off a year ago and even the plant load factor of state owned
power generating utilities underwent a sea change with their improved
efficiencies as a result of which the power tariff per unit came down by 40
paisa.
On the occasion, Chief Engineer, CEA, Mr.
Ashok Kumar Rajput made a detailed presentation on host of issues that confront
the power sector, prescribing solutions and initiatives of the CEA to attack
those judiciously so that the power situation under goes a metamorphic changes.
The conference was moderated by Director, PHD Chamber, Dr. Ranjeet Mehta.
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