Government directs departments to save power

Bhubaneswar, Jun 23(UNI) In a bid to cope with the rising demand for power, the Orissa government today directed all departments to use electrical appliances that consume less power.

Orissa Energy Minister Surya Narayan Patro said the direction was given as it was the only alternative left with the government to cope with the growing demand.

At present, the state generates 18,987 MW electricity and requires an additional 2,900 MW to meet its demand, he said adding the demand was increasing at the rate of more than 15 per cent per annum.

He maintained that the government has planned to electrify 37,000 human habitation and will provide electricity connection to 32 lakh BPL families which require another 900 MW of power.

''To generate required quantity of power demands huge investment,'' he said adding as per an estimate Rs 12 crore was required for generating, commissioning and distributing only one MW of power.

The shortage of coal, environment problem due to emission of carbon dioxide in thermal power stations and the problem of displacement in hydro power generation multiplied the problem further, he said.

He said power supply was also being misused and since management and saving power was necessary to cope with the demand the direction had been given to all government departments to save power and use electrical appliances that consume less power.

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