Power Crisis in kerala …
Doing a study on power crisis is a very difficult thing to do. Just because proper statistics are not available on net. I am doing this study to point out the actual culprits for the state we are in. What is wrong with this state where KSEB has absolute monopoly in distribution and generation segments? Where did we go wrong?
http://www.kerala.gov.in/keralacal_july08/pg10-11.pdf - This is actual statement issued by government of kerala as a justification for Imposing power cuts. It sights cut in central allocation of electricity , Repairs in moozhiyar & Kakkad and delay of monsoon .
I would like to critically evaluate each of these claims :
Central allocation
http://www.cea.nic.in/power_sec_reports/Executive_Summary/2008_07/27-33.pdf This is actual production capabilities of Indian states released by Central Electrical agency . Point to be noted here is installed capacity of Kerala is 3506.04 as against a peak load of 2700 MW as claimed by Kerala ministry. This means a production availability of 2200 MW is a 1300 MW drop in production. Close examination total production of state is 3500-1200 = 2300 MW and produced will be 2200-1200 = 1000 MW ( approx. figures ), this means there is a 1300 MW drop in production of power in Kerala.
Statistics available in site does not point to any significant and drastic cut in power allocation to kerala which remains close to 1200MW from 2007 January. Again the cut in allocation could have happened much earlier.
The point which I am trying to make is clear , while there has not been any significant drop in allocation during 2007 jul and 2008 jul but there is a drop of almost 1300MW of production. Now I am trying to analyze why this has happened.
Also it will not be possible for central government to allocate power to a single state when states like Maharashtra are facing 4-5 hr power cuts. Now the state minister is willfully forgetting 1000MW plant sanctioned to state in Orissa or he is trying to take credit for that. He goes on to say that Kerala is dependent on power projects commissioned by last LDF government. But perhaps he is forgetting that virtually all of them, barring a few , were started by UDF government before them. You can easily get details of projects and who sanctioned them.
Just check the details:
http://cds.edu/download_files/wp320.pdf This is ample evidence for the lack of interest shown by both fronts in this part. Now a person is claiming credit for them, then he must be held responsible for the over spent amount also. It will be better if both parties refrain from this kind of statements, this will harm them only.
Less Rainfall:
Yes, this year Kerala received extremely less rainfall which according to some amounted to 20-30% drop in total figures till august 10th. But here we must note some of the points we received almost 11% excess rainfall last year and a very good monsoon before that too. So it is apparent that we must have more water in our dams prior to May. But where is that water?
Repairs
This is a direct fault from KSEB. The board is responsible for periodic maintenance of generators and failure to deliver has caused this problem. Now the people have to bear the brunt in form of almost 70 paise increase in per unit cost of electricity in the state.
Clearly government and KSEB owe a large share of blame for the current power crisis in kerala. Their inability to deliver goods and perform responsibilities has cost kerala dearly. Now they are asking people to bear the brunt. This is not justifiable.
Whom to Blame
Certainly this inefficiency can not come all of a sudden. This is a by product of long standing in efficacy in public bodies in kerala as a whole.
Large inefficiency in implementing projects. Perhaps route cause will be prevalent corruption when both these parties are bent on corruption, I don’t expect any change in the current scenario.
http://cds.edu/download_files/wp320.pdf : Read this for more info on addition spent required.
The things are pretty clear we are doomed because of lack of planning and resource management by the government and prevalent corruption by successive governments.
We are facing power cuts in almost al states, still the CPM is opposing Nuclear deal which should be able to end this crisis. Think …
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hmm.. Ur last statement is wrong.. CPM is not opposing nuclear energy.. You should also think of the fact that it is EK Nayanar who tried to bring a nuclear power plant in Kannur, which so called “Environment Specialists” opposed.
In addition to the points u made. There should be strong steps to be taken for reducing the distribution loses. Now more than 16% power is lost during transmission and distribution. Also there should be strong steps against Power thefts.
Well i beg to differ. The way CPM has fought against the nuclear deal is self explanatory. India does not have nuclear fuel and when we are trying to buy fuel from outside , CPM is opposing it. They have even questioned economic viability of plants. Fundamentally this has become a strike against nuclear power.
You please verify the facts , as far as i know the Kannur project was initiated by K.Karunakaran later it was rejected after verification by Nayanar Government.
http://www.domain-b.com/economy/general/200208aug/20020805_power.htm – This is a link which i got when i tried to verify it . I am 90% sure that initial ground work was done by K.Karunakaran ministry.
Yes , you are correct. The transmission losses are mindblowing. Some of the latest figures shows that there is a staggering 40% T&D losses of which 21% is because of age old machinery and improper maintanence. 10% is estimated theft and this is really bad. We must be bold enough to bring those culprits before law. Perhaps a new law would be required.
No u are wrong.. It is the Nayanar govt taken the project forward. They even started taking the land. After that all the environment protect came. Then they are forced to reject the project. How can u say CPM is against nuclear energy?. They only opposed the deal with US and its implications. Number of times they stated the fact that nuclear energy is vital for the growth. But for the mere sake of 9% energy it is not advisable to put ur head under somebody’s feet. For the development in the next 20 years, the major chunk of energy has to come from the Arab Nations. It will be suicidal to go against their interest.
Just go to this link
http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power-power/7404348-1.html Get to the site , register and see the article.( Make sure that u cancel ur account else ur credit card will get charged) . Neither of us are totally correct. The study on powerplant locations started way back and was finally given approval in April,1991. True, EK Nayanar was caretaker government during that time, but i dont think u can take credit for that. It was first proposed to center by Karunakaran way back in 80’s. We have oral proofs from DAE chiefs to substantiate this. ( Docs of that period are not available online )
Moreover there is no rationale in telling that Nayanar brought it to kerala. AEC was the body which selects these sites and they are neutral to states. More over the feasibility is really bleak in a state like Kerala. Nuclear waste disposal will be extremely costly. Economic viability of such a project was the main reason of objection and it was rejected by most of the power ministers after 1991.
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