Arunachal Pradesh to face power shortage in current fiscal: NERPC

Arunachal Pradesh is going to face a power shortage of 156 MU (million units) during the current fiscal based on a projection made by Shillong-based North East Regional Power Committee (NERPC).

"The likely power position released by NERPC indicates that during 2014-15 there is a shortfall of 156 MU against the demand of 793 MU," Power Secretary K Tayeng said in a statement here today.

He said 91% of the total power requirement of the state was being fulfilled from the allocation of the central sector share.

"The power supply availability to the state is entirely dependent on central sector generating stations in the north eastern region as well as the technical soundness of the North East Grid.

"Power production problems in the central sector generating stations, including regional grid faults, lead to power supply disruption in the state," he said.

Of the total central share allocation (130 MW), 80% of power was from hydro power projects and therefore the production of power in the north eastern region essentially depends on good monsoon and resultant discharge in the catchment areas, he said.

Being predominantly run by river-based hydro power projects, power production from central sector generating stations was seasonal and so generation drastically falls during lean season.

"The generation during the lean period is almost one-fourth of the installed capacities of the projects," he added.