Power deficit increases

Peak power deficit for the month went up to 16.7 per cent as against 13.9 per cent in the corresponding month last year. Average deficit for the month reached 12.1 per cent compared with 10.4 per cent in April 2007.

Total capacity addition in April (250 Mw) is also short of the programmed 309 Mw, according to the monthly capacity addition report released by the Central Electricity Authority(CEA). This comes at a time the government has set a capacity addition target of 78,577 Mw in the 11th Plan period.