Load Shedding Ver 2.0
Temporarily Postponed
By Zubair Ahmed
After Suryachakra Power Corporation Ltd (SPCL), the
Independent Power Plant decided to shut down two of its 5 MW DG sets, the Admn
has for the time being managed the power crisis by hiring power from here and
there. But there is more to the issue that meets the eye.
From the two press notes issued by the
Superintending Engineer and the Principal Secretary Power, its apparent from
the choice of words that there is a visible fissure between the power centres.
In the press note issued by SE, he states that SPCL 'did not' undertake timely overhauling whereas Principal Secretary
in the press note states that SPCL 'could
not' undertake timely overhauling of their DG sets.
Does the Principal Secretary imply that SPCL could
have carried out the overhauling and maintenance, had they been provided with
funds? The tone and texture of SE's press note seems more like a blame game,
unwilling to settle the dispute with SPCL. Who draws power from where is still
a mystery.
The row between the Admn and SPCL is folklore now.
No Authority, Tribunal or Commission has been able to break the jinx and
provide an amiable solution to the problem. Even after 10 years, various issues
related with the fixation of tied up funds and completed cost is still awaiting
redressal. The ping-pong between different power centres, frequent threats from
the IPP and the knee-jerk reactions from the Administration are all
contributing to the mess.
And it seems history is repeating every year. Though
the probability of load shedding have been averted this time, the power play has
taken a new turn and the issue temporarily postponed.
In South Andaman, the total peak load requirement
is 34 MW. With SPCL shutting down 10 MW, the deficit was 4 MW which the Electricity
Dept has managed by requisitioning 3 MW extra from the new Hired Power Plant Sudhir
Ready Gensets and coaxing New Bharat to resume generating about 2.5 MW. Chatham and Phoenix
Bay
While the Administration boasts of bringing two new
Hired Power Plants (HPP) - New Bharat and Sudhir Ready with a combined capacity
of 15 MW and the commissioning of 5 MW NTPC solar plant, they are another Frankensteins in the making!
In 2012, when a major breakdown in SPCL pushed the
whole capital and surrounding areas into darkness, some major decisions were
taken to enhance power generation.
To the dismay, New Bharat, the HPP took more than
six months to install its 5MW DG sets. The Plant, which failed to keep up with
the Agreement was shut down due to fund constraints.
Sudhir Ready, who are providing 10 MW as per the Power
Purchase Agreement have an installed capacity of 16 MW. The extra 3 MW came
handy in this precarious situation.
All these steps were supposed to postpone the SPCL
crisis with a stern blow on its face for the 2012 blackout.
In fact, out of 20 MW, SPCL was only generating 15
MW since last year, when one of its DG sets broke down. SPCL had sought Rs 5
crore loan recommended by then Superintending Engineer Yameen Murtaza, for
undertaking overhauls which was out rightly rejected by the Secretary Power
stating that the PPA does not have any provision for loans. No fund was
provided to them on account for undertaking maintenance of the DG sets.
"On 18th March this year, Joint Electricity
Regulatory Commission (JERC) in the public hearing held at Port Blair had
ordered the Electricity Dept to pay Rs 10 crores to SPCL for maintenance of its
DG sets," said a senior functionary at SPCL. It is however delayed citing
umpteen bureaucratic snares.
The whole power sector stinks of egoism and
one-upmanship.
After prolonged negotiations last year, Jalaj
Shrivastav, Secretary Power who had objected to payment of Rs 5 crore as loan to
SPCL had assured that the dues pertaining to completed cost and other dues will
be cleared without further delay. SPCL was convinced and switched on the DG
sets after minor repairs.
But, Jalaj had other objections too and was a bit cynical
about the affairs between Yameen Murtaza and SPCL. He also had his own doubts
about the new entrant New Bharat, with whom Electricity Dept had inked a Power
Purchase Agreement for 5 MW. Deadlines after deadlines violated by New Bharat, finally
after installation, it could not generate more than 3 MW. The IPP was taken for
task and penalties imposed on them. The plant was virtually dead.
From the outset, it was quite obvious that a new
divide had developed between Secretary Power and former Superintending
Engineer. After the March 2012 blackout and the peeved New Bharat affair, the
divide further widened.
With PPA signed with Sudhir Ready for 10 MW
containerized DG sets, the Admn had found a way out from the SPCL quandary. But
to keep his promise, Jalaj had initiated the process of clearing SPCL dues. By
now, the new Chief Secretary, another eternal cynic had taken charge. With
advice from his loyals including Yameen Murtaza and Secretary Law, wary of the
orders passed by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), he put a brake. The SPCL
file once again was put on backburner with CS chewing over the issue.
The roof-top solar project for govt. buildings
mooted by Jalaj Shrivastav became another bone of contention between him and the
Chief Secretary. He was keenly pursuing the matter and just before the bid
process, the Chief Secretary, apprehensively stalled it and sought a review.
By the appearance of Sudhir Ready on the scene
installing 16 containerized DG sets of 1 MW
each, the Secretary Power in a way had conquered the battle of deficit. But,
could not keep his promise to SPCL.
The 5 MW NTPC solar plant, a major breakthrough in
the renewable energy sector, was commissioned in a record time. However,
its commissioning did not receive the kind of publicity or fanfare that the
Admn normally accords to a bridge or
fish market opening.
Even though, Solar Power connected to the grid is a
day affair with a 9 to 5 timeframe and the peak output somewhere near 3 MW, it
is one positive development. Otherwise, with excessive reliance on Independent
and Hired Power Plants and Admn's lackadaisical approach in improving its own
power plants, which are all performing sub-optimally, there seems to be streak
of darkness at the end of the tunnel.
The containerized DG sets installed by Sudhir Ready
are not the kind meant for base load. Their forte has been corporate companies
in the NCR. Moreover, no one can rule out the possibility of the new hired
power plants turning hostile whenever they too come under the same kind of
bureaucratic power plays.
If next time, we face load shedding, it wont be due
to shortage of power, but mistrust and bureaucratic leg pulling in the corridors
of power.
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