Asom gazes towards Rain Gods as power crisis cripple state

Guwahati, Apr 03 (UNI) Reeling under severe power crisis, Asom is now looking towards the Rain Gods for respite.

Highly-placed sources in the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) informed that the state was presently facing a shortfall of more than 200 MW during peak hours whereas the demand was over 750 MW.

The opening of the second unit of the 50 MW Karbi Langpi project on April sixth would help in improving the crisis to an extent, ASEB sources said adding that the first unit is already functional.

The receding water level in rivers following no rainfall during the past several weeks has led to the crisis as the state is heavily dependant on hydel power generating projects to meet its demand.

The shortage in rainfall in other parts of the country had further worsened the problem, the ASEB official said adding that the Centre was providing much less than 450-500 MW power it supplies under regular circumstances.

The commissioning of the NTPC's power project at Kahalagaon in Bihar would improve the power crisis in Asom also, the official added.

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