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Power struggle
Written By idontspam - 30 June, 2009
Bangalore Power Supply Media Reports
Karnataka Minister for Energy K.S. Eshwarappa on Tuesday said the State had been facing severe shortage of power on account of deficit rainfall in June following which the Energy Department was thinking of announcing a formal load-shedding should the dry spell continue for two more days.
Now, this is not just in Karnataka but this has been going on for decades... we have known the demand supply short fall since time immemorial. Do we not have a clue how the shortfall can be bridged? How long do we rely on the Hydroelectric source? Really what are the challenges in meeting the energy needs?
The Minister said there was no proposal before the government to purchase additional power from private companies such as GMR and Jindal apart from sugar units which had cogeneration plants.
So what are they waiting for?
COMMENTS
For God to answer their prayers
s_yajaman - 30 June, 2009 - 22:14
Apparently our CM has "full faith" in God and he has asked us all to pray very hard. With a government like ours, I don't think we have too many other options :)
Jokes apart, I wonder how they plan to run the Metro with this sort of power supply. Maybe all passengers just pray and the train levitates and moves along?
First it was denial (no power shortage), now some sort of acceptance but might take a bit longer before they can think of some options.
Srivathsa
Rithesh - 1 July, 2009 - 03:23
During the weeks prior to Lok Sabha elections the state apparently spent 3000 crores on buying power to ensure uninterrupted power supply. The logic was to have a feel good factor.
Now even if they want to buy power they are hardly left with any money and with tax revenues coming down significantly this year, problem will only worsen. I wonder what it has done to our finances. For long Karnataka had a better track record when it came to managing finances and deficits. With such useless expenditures, with no quantifiable returns we will be doomed very soon. It is our money that these guys burnt - all for the sake of feel good factor - my a***.
And some one should tell our Honorable CM that planting trees would have better results than praying "VERY VERY HARD"
narayan82 - 1 July, 2009 - 04:09
Mr Hon'ble CM seems to have got it all wrong. First, prayers dont make rain fall! Trees do. On one hand he is chopping down all the greenery on the other he is praying for rain! Its like praying to win the lottery without buying a ticket!
Then we have proposed monstrocities like a 250 Storey building. How much more power will that consume?
As srivatsa point out - metro is another concern. May as well start setting up solar panels and windmills above the train!
Lastly, if there is a shortage due to rainfall - its not really the govt's fault. We are the consumers and we are all cause to this plight. Now the least we can expect from the govt. is proper management.
If you are having load shedding accept it. Have scheduled load shedding so people can plan thier lives. This unscheduled, denied load shedding is irritating and just shows the apathy, self centredness and cowardlyness of the management.
Take strict measure not to waste energy on Billboards, exterior lights on IT Parks etc at night. We have to learn to conserve. The demand is always going to grow, can we always look to meet the demand?
poowonder - 1 July, 2009 - 05:48
Though it is necessary to find ways of bridging the shortfall, promotion of solar technology could help in addressing the demand v/s supply gap.
It is a known fact that one unit of power conserved is equal to two units generated. Government should promote the use of solar appliances for domestic use and commercial purposes wherever possible and give attractive waivers / subsidies on the purchase of these appliances to promote the same.
Solar energy can be a good alternative for hydro electric power.Though it has its own limitations; it can compensate the power needs to some extent.
GoK had planned to launch an ambitious self-sustaining solar technology programme which would cater to the energy needs of 50 lakh people. (Click here for a news report on it http://www.livemint.com/2009/06/25121532/Bangalore-plans-to-brighten-up.html ). Why not something like this on a large scale be possible? At least gradually?
Wither Non-Hydro electric power?
idontspam - 1 July, 2009 - 04:52
We are trying to curtail the demand side because we are short on supply. How much thought has gone into bridging the gap using non-hydroelectric sources? how is the supply side planning looking for the next 20 years. These are long gestation capital expenditures, surely there will be a 20 year plan.
I hope it doesnt look like this
year 1 - Pray, year 2 - Pray............. year 20 - Pray.
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