Poor distribution system responsible for Delhi's power woes: Officia

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Delhi will continue to reel under severe power crisis for the next few months as its distribution system is faulty and inefficient and does not properly absorb power transmitted from various generating units, Central Electricity Authority Member (Planning) V S Verma has said.

Inaugurating a seminar on ''Software Solutions for Power Utilities'', organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), he said ''even if the Delhi government puts up a 500 MW new power plant in and around Delhi, it would be extremely difficult to meet the peak power requirement because of its inefficient power distribution system''.

Mr Verma, however, added that on an average the power shortage of Delhi was to the extent of 300 MW for peak period, and efforts were on to curtail it.

Talking about the 10th plan power capacities achievement targets, he said that 40,000 MW of power capacities would be added during the plan period by March 31, 2007. India would be able to add another 70,000 MW of power capacities by 2012, mostly through thermal power stations.

The CEA's major concern was choice of fuel for power generation.

There was a shortage of nuclear power inputs, hydro takes longer gestation period and without the gas input, the government would have to fall back on coal power generation, even if it had to import it in massive quantity, Mr Verma pointed out.

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