Captive power only option for Haryana units

SMEs with strong financials rely on captive power, run on diesel gensets, that costs about Rs 12.50 per unit. Power supplied by the the state electricity board costs Rs 4.50 per unit. The going is tough for those who cannot afford captive power.

IS Paul, managing director of Panchkula based Drish Shoes Ltd says: "It is not only the issue of availability of power , but of quality as well."

He says there is a variation of voltage from 350 volts to 400 volts. The voltage is phenomenally high at night and abysmally low in day. The machines get damaged if the voltage is unregulated.

"The frequent fall and rise in voltage jeopardises our production", he said.

Owners of most of the small units said they could not afford gensets due to high cost of diesel. Most of the automobile ancillaries situated in Gurgaon said that they were investing substantially in captive power to comply to delivery deadlines for their parent units.

"We are suffering due to apathy of the policy makers . They blindly approve any project, be it a shopping mall, housing project and manufacturing unit in the state without increasing the installed capacity", said one of the manufacturers.

Owners of the the scientific instruments industry of Ambala also echoed the same complaint.

Haryana has an installed capacity of 5,000 Mw against the demand for 9,000 Mw. The state intends to add 5000 mw in three years, but there are many hassles in the implementation of projects with most requiring huge investments and long gestation periods.

The industry in Yamunanagar faces power cut for 8-10 hours a day, says Raman Saluja, joint managing director, Oriental Engineering Works Private Ltd.

Proposed capacity additions in synergy with private players in Haryana may improve the situation by narrowing the gap between demand and supply in the state, he added.