BJP Govt. in MP has completed one year of governance. But on the eve of completion of one year, the Govt has rewarded the people with massive power cut effective from 6 Dec. The BJP Govt. came to power in MP in Dec. 2003 on the election manifesto of improving condition of Bijli, Pani and Sarak as the Congress Govt. ruling the State for 10 years had miserably failed on these fronts of providing electricity, potable water and good roads - and were voted out by the people.
Till now Govt had been managing power with some supply from NTPC and some other states. During rains the water levels of its hydel power stations were also high. As per CM, Central Govt. has withdrawn 353 MW of central sector power, earlier being supplied to MP.
MP has 2147.5 MW of installed thermal capacity and 750 MW of installed hydel capacity apart from Indira Sagar hydel station of NVDA. One set of 500 MW is under construction at Birsinghpur and one set of 250 MW is planned for Amarkantak. The thermal stations of MP are also very old and lived their useful lives and even refurbation of units may not be of much help. Many units are not even operating at full capacity. Water level of hydel stations have also come down. Even with good rains hydel stations are supposed to run at satisfactory loads upto Jan. Sarni Th. Station is not getting required coal supplies from Western Coalfields. Now the additional power required during Rabi Season has also cropped up and the Govt. declared the policy of 6 hrs. continuous daily electricity supply to farmers during the Rabi. The farmers are also agitating that they are not getting regular supply.
With the present availability, the demand and supply gap is 1500 MW daily and with the additional requirement for the Rabi season, Govt. is unable to cope up with the requirement. So the power cut has been imposed from 6 Dec. Earlier the Divisional HQs were exempted from power cuts.But under the current plan DHQs have also been covered except Bhopal, the capital of MP. DHQs will have 2 hrs. cut, Distt. HQs. 4 hrs. and Tehsil HQs. 6 hrs. of cut. This apart from the undeclared shedding which is also being resorted to. Chairman MPSEB has said that efforts will be made to supply power to the rural areas during evening peak and single phase supply during the night.
Already the public cry against power cut has picked up. The school and college students have their half yearly and semester exams. going on. They are all adversely affected. Govt. had declared that students will be given electricity during exams. Many office going people who have to get ready early have also a setback. The housewives are facing difficulties as they have to make preparations for the school going children and office going members of the family as the load shedding is affected in the morning hours. Protests, Bandhs, and agitations from all over the State have been reported.
The opposition party, the Congress wanted discussion on this issue in the Assembly. But the Speaker of MP Assembly disallowed it with the plea that the matter has already been discussed in details in an earlier session.
Alongwith the ongoing problem of power-cuts and shortage of power, the price of power has also increased adding to the problems of the common people. Effective from 1-1-2005 Electricity Regulating Commission of MP has ordered increase in electricity rates by 5% to 11%. 11% increase will be for the domestic consumers.