Minister blames less rain for power shortage in Assam
Guwahati, Mar 12 : As the state faced an acute power shortage, Assam Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today informed the assembly that "less or no rainfall" was behind the shortfall as 60 per cent of power in the state is generated through hydro projects.
Replying to a Zero House discussion on the current power shortage, the minister said there has been very limited or even zero rainfall, adversely affecting power generation in the hydro-power projects.
'Hydro-power projects meet 60 per cent of the state's total power generation. But at present, due to shortage of water as a result of no or less rainfall, only 15-20 per cent power is being produced,' Mr Bordoloi said.
The water is stored during the day and power generation is mostly done during the peak evening hours to meet the demand in the present scenario.
The minister said power supply from the thermal power projects has also been limited as some of the projects were facing labour problems and shortage of gas.
He underlined two sources of power as remedial measures to sail through such power shortage in the immediate future.
One was power from the NTPC Bongaigaon project, of which one unit is expected to be commissioned this year, and power from the first unit of the Palatana project in Tripura, which will be commissioned next month, Mr Bordoloi said.
The peak hour power demand in the state is over 1100 MW, with a 14 per cent increase in power demand recorded annually.