No more load shedding in the State, assures CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: While replying to an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on the power crisis in the State during the autumn session of the Assam Assembly today, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured that there would be no more load shedding in the State as the government had worked out ways to tide over the power shortage in the State. He further said that compared to some other states of the country, the power deficit in Assam was less.

Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, independent MLA Akhil Gogoi and CPI (M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar today moved an adjournment motion on the power crisis in the State. While speaking on the admissibility of the motion, the MLAs said that people were suffering due to the frequent load shedding in the State. Over the years, due to an increase in the power demand, the power crisis in the State had worsened.

When an adjournment motion is moved, it is usually rejected by the Speaker. In a first, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma requested the Speaker to accept the adjournment motion as the government was ready to reply.

Chief Minister Sarma admitted that for around 3-4 days there was a power shortage in the State. “But now I assure the people that there will be no more load shedding. We have managed to tide over the power shortage in the State,” he said.

He further said that the recent power crisis was due to an unprecedented rise in the power demand. “But this is a good sign. Due to industrial development, the power demand has increased,” he said.

The Chief Minister, however, said that load shedding and power cuts due to technical glitches were different things and people should not confuse between the two. “If there is no power supply for at least 45 minutes, it is load shedding. But power cuts for 5-10 minutes are due to technical glitches. People tend to confuse between the two,” he said.

“It is said that Assam has a shortage of its own power generation. But there are reasons for our State’s inadequate power production. There is limited scope for hydro and gas-based power plants. There are also problems in setting up coal-based power plants. So now we have gone for tie-ups with power-generating companies of other states. By 2028, these power-generating companies are expected to supply us 2,000 MW of electricity. Also, if our power demand continues its rising trend, we will need 4,000 MW power by 2026,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that in 2021-22, the power deficit in the State was 5 MW and in 2022-23, the power deficit is 3 MW till now. “We have been able to mitigate the loss of power at the stage of transmission and distribution. Two years ago, this loss was 20 per cent but now it has decreased to 16 per cent,” he said.

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