FRIDAY, 04 MAY 2012
23:26
PNS | SAMBALPUR
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The gap between demand and supply causes frequent power cuts in
the State, including the areas under Wesco.
At the same time, the present power cuts are
neither intentional nor under the control of the power distributing company,
said Wesco Managing Director P Gopal Reddy while talking to reporters here on
Wednesday.
With an intention to make the air clear on the
power crisis in this region and to respond to the massive public resentment,
Reddy and other senior staff of Wesco organised the Press meet to inform the
public about the current state of affairs on power supply.
“All the hydropower stations of the State are
producing only 12 per cent of their total capacity due to shortage of water in
their reservoirs. The result being the Wesco has to suffer heavy losses for it
besides earning a bad name,” said Reddy.
The total capacity of the hydropower stations
of the State located at Hirakud, Chipilima, Upper Kolab, Balimela, Rengali,
Machhkund and Indrabati is 2,062 MW. But practically, these stations are
producing only a meager quantity of 250 MW of electricity, which is only 12 per
cent of the total capacity, he informed.
For smooth supply of electricity in its entire
region, the Wesco needs 950 MW whereas the real availability is only 650 MW.
“Hence against our will, power cuts for three to four hours a day have become
indispensable,” he said.
Reddy said the Wesco is supposed to collect
`3.5 crore in a month towards the electricity bills. But the real collection,
in spite of all our efforts and appeals, is only Rs 2. 2 crore. If the
consumers pay their dues in time, the company would invest more in
modernisation and replace the obsolete machineries for providing better
services, he said.
Mohan Kumar Mishra, Ashis Kumar Panda and
Devanand Samal of the Wesco also sought public cooperation during this crisis,
which, they said, is beyond the control of any distributing company.
“A three-hour power cut
is no doubt painful, but ensuring a steady power supply for the rest 21 hours
is equally not an easy task under the present scenario.” Reddy observed.
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