Industrial production losses to exceed 25% in Aug-Sept

New Delhi, Aug 13 (UNI) The loss of industrial production is likely to exceed 25 per cent in August and September due to ceaseless power disruptions in Northern, Southern and Western parts of the country, a survey says.

The power disruptions have already forced industrial units to trim their industrial production by about 15 per cent in June-July 2007 and the prospect of any improvement in assured power supplies is bleak, industry chmaber Assocham said in a survey.

The power deficit suffered by thousands of industrial units in June-July was estimated between 20-25 per cent and the scarcity will go beyond 35 per cent in August and September due to excessive rains experienced in most part of northern, southern and western India.

''The regions were reeling under tremendous power shortage in June and July and the rains added to the power woes as defects in the transmission system have hardly been rectified,'' said Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot.

As a result of this power crises, industrial production in states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and even Goa would have to be curtailed to the extent of 20-25 per cent particularly in manufacturing units as these have no alternative means to produce power, Assocham added.

Mr Dhoot further said since a few new capacities are emerging in power sector and T&D losses remain untamed to the extent of 60 per cent in most of leading states excluding Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, the power situation is unlikely to be better in next few months even though mercury levels will fall significantly.

Madhya Pradesh, which has a power requirement of over 3500 MU, has availability of little over 2400 MU with deficit ranging over 26 per cent. The situation is no better in Gujarat where the power deficit is approximately 13 per cent.

UNI