Erratic power supply must stop: NPCC

DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 11 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) today expressed concern at the erratic supply of power in the State.

In a press release, NPCC President, K Therie stated that the Nagaland Government “is not at all serious with power supply.” “18 years of its rule has failed to improve. It has become more erratic. Domestic appliances are destroyed, industrial activities disturbed, every hospital, hotel and home requires generators, invertors and solar power to support. These account for much more expenditure than the department's bills,” the NPCC stated.

It further observed that power supply cannot withstand even the slightest wind or rain. “There is no day in which power supply was uninterrupted,” the Congress said. It further pointed out that the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 78 crores for Improvement of Dimapur Transmission & Distribution. It called for enhancing transformers’ capacity and providing cable lines to minimize hooking. 

“When other cities and states are able to provide uninterrupted power supply, why cannot the State think of doing it? We are not weaker in engineering nor are we weaker in funding. We only need political will to do it,” the NPCC said.

It further claimed that “generation is not the problem,” while adding that load shedding from grid is not the problem. The Congress said that the State requires hardly 200 MW for another decade to come. “Although there will be an increment every year, perhaps 10-15MW. We have rivers that can generate enough. State has decided to set up Thermal Power Station and has bought land 20 years back. Setting up 100MW Thermal power hardly requires 18 months,” it stated. 

The NPCC added that the “problem is extortion camps.” “Any big project or industry in the state results in extortion camps being immediately set up. I am speaking from experience as Minister for Power. We have struggled hard to commission Likhimro Hydro Project and NEPCO Doyang Hydro Project,” the party President said. 

Further the NPCC stated that the other major problem is transmission and distribution lines. “Despite heavy funding from in the transmission and distribution, most of the transformers are overloaded while poles and tension wires break down due to non replacement,” it noted. It further alleged that there is corruption in material supplies.

It further commented on the State Government’s claim that it pays Rs 300 Crores for power purchase and collects hardly Rs 150 crores from the customers. This means a shortfall of 50%. This, the Congress said, should not happen as the sale price per unit is “perhaps double of purchase price or more to include loss in transmission and distribution.” “If online bills are paid to treasury under separate head, I do not believe revenue generation should be just 50% of the power purchase,” the NPCC President said.

He meanwhile expressed confidence in the Power Department’s capabilities; provided they get the required political support and will.