Dr Asangba Tzudir
The Department of Power Nagaland (DoPN) has reported that the power situation in Nagaland is at an alarming stage caused by the “lean season and shut thermal stations exacerbating scarcity.” And that even though a recurring problem, the shortage has been more acute this time which is also affected by the shutting down of a major thermal power station for maintenance as reported. From a peak demand of 60MW in the 1090s to a current peak demand of 180 MW which is a 300% increase and the availability is only 100 MW during peak hours. This deficit is the cause of the alarming situation and the fact that the Nagaland Board examinations are underway adds to the alarm.
The State-owned Likimro Hydro Electric Project (LHEP) has also been generating well below its installed capacity of 24 MW. Having said that, the plant is a very small capacity plant and which is also subject to the season easily falls to zero generation during dry seasons. And Doyang Hydro power plant though having a higher capacity of 75MW but being built by NEEPCO, and as per agreement, Nagaland gets only 12% i.e. 9MW. However, this also becomes zero during dry season. All this has led to Nagaland coming lowest in terms of power generation in India.
Besides the State buying under long term purchase agreements, the state Govt has also allowed the purchase of additional power from the “spot market” in order to mitigate the increased demand for power, more so the demand for uninterrupted power supply to enable students to study properly. The spot market purchase is not only at a higher rate but that is not a case of ‘readily available’ rather subject to availability.
Coming to issues which require immediate intervention in order to mitigate the alarming situation, one ‘hurdle’ is vegetation cited as a major cause for power interruptions. Clearing vegetation is not a serious problem while compared to the difficulty of purchasing power. Easier said than done, but it also needs to be immediately tasked in consideration of the impending disaster along electrical lines. As requested to village councils and stakeholders it has now become a moral responsibility to help the department of power in clearing the vegetation. This is a moral minimum, the least the public can do as consumers. After all, it will only add to better power supply.
Now in this state of alarming situation, the most effective remedial measure would be for all households, institutions and consumers at large to use electricity wisely and judiciously. This requires change in mindsets, and to this end orientation programmes has now become necessary on a much larger scale so that sensitization can reach to a larger section. A small mindset change like ‘switching off lights when not necessary’, or the attitude of ‘so long as am paying bills I will just light up.’ Let it be known that the existing electricity supply & distribution infrastructure are operating beyond their capacities especially in Dimapur which results in transformers blowing up in flames. There is also the need for upgrading the supply & distribution power infrastructure to ensure transformers do not blow up operating beyond their load capacity!
Presently, there is about 140 crore deficit between power purchase and revenue returns. At any cost the huge revenue loss needs to be recovered. One way is for Smart meters and prepaid meters at consumer level to improve billing efficiency and revenue collections which will thereby minimize the losses. However, it is high time for the Power Department to go beyond the 7 days notice which is being issued to defaulting consumers. To set deterrence, it is now a necessity to ‘criminalize’ non-paying consumers and those stealing electricity. Only then the state will see some reforms. Corporatisation/privatisation of the power department electricity distribution & billing division can also be explored by ensuring use of modern technology to have a highly efficient & transparent management system.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
