The Delhi Vidyut Board needs to gear up with a firm programme to meet the increased load demand of 1000-1100 MW during Ninth Plan, according to a study conducted by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
The study, on the performance of the Delhi Vidyut Board during the Eighth Plan by PHDCCI, depicts a bleak future for DVB. Most power projects sanctioned during the Eighth Plan are languishing for want of a serious commitment towards their completion.
The PHDCCI study points out that the increased load demand in the Ninth Plan would require an additional capacity of 1300 to 1400 MW. During the 8th Plan Load Demand (peak met) in Delhi increased from about 1500 MW in 1991-92 to about 2100 MW in 1996-97.
Presently, 60 per cent of the Capitals power requirements are being met from power supply from the northern grid. Only three waste heat units of 34 MW each were commissioned during the Eighth Plan. For the Bawana I (421 MW) which was part of the Eighth Plan programme, the power purchase agreement (PPA) has not yet been signed and no firm commissioning programme finalised so far. The Bawana II (600 to 650 MW) for which pre-qualification bids were invited a year ago has not made any progress and as such no firm commissioning programme is available.
As regards the liquid fuel projects, small power plants of 25 to 100 MW capacity each were proposed to be located near load centres. These are still at a conceptual stage and no firm allocation of liquid fuel has been made by the petroleum ministry nor any commissioning programme is available.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed for a 300 mw Appollo Energy Project. The PPA is yet to be submitted to the Delhi Vidyut Board.
The Pragati Power Project (600 MW) and IP Replacement project (900 MW) are also in conceptual stages and unlikely to be completed by the end of Ninth Plan. Regarding power availability projects in the neighbouring states like Lakhwar Vyasi (Hydro) in UP and Parbati Valley (Hydro) in Himachal Pradesh, there is no likelihood of these projects coming up even during the late years of the Tenth Plan.
The chamber urges the DVB not to depend upon these projects for any benefits for meeting the load demand in the Ninth Plan.
Judging from the past performance of these programmes, it seems these are totally out of reach of Delhi Vidyut Board. The chamber hopes that as in the case of Bawana I these projects will not slip to Tenth or subsequent plans.
The PHDCCI study reveals that for a compact power supply system of Delhi, T&D losses should be around 12-15 per cent. Unfortunately, these losses are very much on the higher side and increasing every year. T&D losses stood at 23 per cent in 1992-93 and are now estimated to have increased to 55 per cent.
The chamber feels that rampant theft of power and prolonged delays in the completion of the augmentation programme of T&D system in the Eighth Plan is responsible for the miserable situation. No tangible steps have been to control theft of power.
PHDCCI advocates the need to fully implement the Vasant Committee Report on power theft.
