Dimapur, May 1 (MExN): The power situation in Nagaland is virtually headed for a full-time crisis with the North East Region Load Dispatch Centre, Shillong deciding to allocate only about 13 to 20 Megawatts which is only a miserable quarter of the State’s requirement of about 75-84MWs. As a result, this may even result in up to 3 hours load-shedding in the main districts – Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.
It was also informed that a total power-shut down might be affected in the three districts if situation turns worse. The load-shedding in all the districts is currently on alternate, hourly basis. It was also informed by the state’s power department that the load-shedding would continue for another three months, or till the monsoon arrives. Of the Districts Dimapur would be the hardest-hit since it is the biggest consumer in the state accounting a whooping 35MWs of the total discharge alone.
The NERLDC, Shillong as well as the North East Electric & Power Corporation (NEEPCO) which are the two main power providers to Nagaland, informed the State power department today that only 13 to 20MWs would be allotted for the next few months due to chronic depletion of water reservoirs in the hydro generators. There is also the possibility that in some districts, the power department may go in for load-shedding of up to two-three hours at a stretch from the current half-an-hour/one hour alternate rotation. According to power department officials Nagaland would be the severest-hit for the fact that almost all its power requirements are procured from out side the state. “Nagaland is the only state in the NE which does not have a self-reliant power-generation station. There are small ones but they are only basic and cannot fulfill the load requirement of the entire State”, a top official from the state government said.
“It’s not only Nagaland but the whole of the North Eastern states. Until the rains come the power deficit situation would continue” DA Shishak, Chief Engineer, Power, said. It was also informed that the State government was not in a position to take any measures for the deficient power situation since the problem is “entirely monsoon-based” the official said.
The Dimapur Power department has appealed to power-consumers to bear with the inconvenience. In a press release, the department also appealed to the Chief Engineer (Power) Kohima, that power department staffers are facing threats and intimidation from irate public. “We are compelled to resort to load-shedding/complete shutdown of feeders without exception, including to hospitals, communication facilities, industrial units, government and semi-government consumers” it stated.
State power officials reminded that it was not only the depletion of generating water reservoirs but also power thefts, and non-payment of electricity bills by consumers, including government consumers. “We purchase power from other states with about 70 crores but even half of the expenses incurred to purchase the power are not recovered due to rampant power-thefts and non-payment of bills from consumers including consumers from government” one official rued.
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