LUCKNOW | Tuesday, February 2, 2010

UP petitions CERC demanding for more electricity

Pioneer News Service | Lucknow

Expressing serious concern over the low allocation of electricity quota from national grid on Monday, the UP petitioned central electricity regulatory commission (CERC) demanding for more electricity in ratio with needs of huge population of the state.

In a meeting of CERC authorities and heads of various state electricity regulatory commissions held in state capital the UP power corporation ltd. (UPPCL) stressed that the power crisis in UP, with various factors, was also being aggravated by the faulty and worn out policies of the centre.

Protesting currently in use ‘Gadgil formula’ for power quota allocation in his presentation Director (Finance) in UPPCL, SK Agrawal said, the UP has only 22 percent share of power in northern region while its population consists 56 percent in the region.

In view of the needs of huge population of UP the basis of electricity quota allocation should be revised as it was proving to be a stumbling block in development of biggest state in the country, he stressed.

Notably in ‘Gadgil formula’ the power allocation from national grid is decided in light of the power consumption and record of revenue collection of the state during previous five years. While the UP have earned a notoriety for unscheduled overdrawls from national grid and was being frequently fined for putting the grid in danger.

However the CERC, chairman Pramod Dev assured that he would forward the demands of UP to central government as the power allocation was done at the centre’s discretion.

In view of the UP being a land locked state as it could not import the coal needed for power generation plants on its own the UPPCL also demanded for priority in coal quota allocation by the centre.

The UPPCL representative in the meeting giving details of state government’s plans aimed at meeting out shortfall of the power said, the government was committed to enhance generation up to 7000 mega watt during 11th plan and 25000 mw by conclusion of 12th plan. Currently the accelerated power reform development projects (APRDPs) were being carried in full swing to strengthen the distribution network in rural areas.

The UPPCL representative also complained that the state was being deprived from the surplus power purchased from other states as the centre was not providing transmission corridor to import this power in to the state.