Dwaipayan Dasgupta
(The writer can be reached at dwaipayan204@gmail.com)
Well, it is a proven fact that electricity is one of the major engines of growth. The mechanism for the daily, uninterrupted and regular supply of electricity can only ensure its rapid economic and industrial growth.
As the matter of discussion here is vis-à-vis Assam and its prospects of accelerated growth in the immediate future, all that needs mention here is that the State is by far the most productive of all the seven States in the Northeast India, for it has all the ingredients essential to setting it on the high-growth trajectory, such as natural gas, coal, crude oil, petroleum products, uranium and et al. Most importantly, Assam even has water resource. By virtue of it, the State has, like the rest of the region, possessed the potential of generating hydro-power to the tune of a total 674 MW, which is much too meagre a quantum if viewed against the backdrop of the State’s demand, and, as such, it is no near the region of either Mizoram, or Manipur or, even of Nagaland.
In fact, the total hydro-power generation capacities of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland, as revealed in a recent report based on a survey undertaken by the Central Electricity Authority(CEA), have been 2,196 MW, 1,784 MW and 1,574 MW respectively.
Whatever it may be, the fact of the matter is that the normal supply of electricity can only attract capital investment and FDI in Assam. But what is ironic is that Assam, like several other States in the region such as Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, is reeling under the spell of mounting pressure due to shortage of power, its hydro-power potential notwithstanding. This phenomenon has these days well resonated in load-shedding in several towns the State power Department resort to a few hours almost every day. Indeed, in Guwahati city, thankfully, its frequency is low, and the duration is also short.
Notably, Assam’s power demand is very high. As of today, its daily regular demand is a minimal 2000 MW. But it reportedly generates a meagre 200 MW of power. Therefore, the State’s power deficit is of the order of close to 1400 MW. In effect, it is supposedly having a tough challenge in bridging the gap between supply-demand. This shortfall, though, is made up by buying from other sources which are again depending on good monsoon for hydro-power generation. How long will the State government continue to rely on this arrangement if it has to devolve Assam into a prime destination of hectic economic activity for the South-East Asian countries as is stipulated in the much-vaunted Look East Policy, now named the Act East Policy? Or, will it on its own try and augment its energy generation? Certainly, it will have to develop a roadmap for improving its existing power scenario without further delay given its advantageous position with its rare privilege of high volume of business with the South-East Asian nations by virtue of other available basic infrastructure such as roads, industry-spurring other ingredients etc. Or, else, erratic energy supply will rarely facilitate rapid growth in Assam.
But, why is it that its current power scenario in the State is something far from gratifying? The reason is not far to seek. It is, as is known to everyone, due to its few power generation projects going dysfunctional for long, with some others including the Bongaigoan-Salakati NTPC thermal power generators, missing the deadlines. As such, the State gets power supply to the tune of about 250 MW only from a few hydro-power projects including the Karbi-Langpi generation station. With the power situation in the State having the problem of power shortfall, several towns face shortage of supply of electricity for a spell of time during the day. Even Guwahati incidentally being the only principal metropolis in the entire Northeast, also, goes without electricity area-wise, almost every day, though for a short term.
Coming to villages, the tale of electrification is, candidly speaking, one of despondency and frustration. That about 24 lakh households out of the 65 lakhs in the State are, as per a source, without power is a sad commentary on the state of pace of electrification. The said department is now supposedly in doldrums.The Centre has recently set target of ensuring supplying 24x7 power for all by March 2019. The pertinent question is: will the State power department be able to fulfill it by the given month set by the Modi-led NDA ruling establishment? It is difficult to say. Of course, Power minister Tapan Gogoi was reportedly of the view that the department is toying with the idea of replacing some 4000 bamboo and wooden electric poles. The entire work will be completed in one and a half years time. Replacement of such poles with concrete ones in remote villages is the need of the hour for poor villagers to check the incidence of electrocutions. It may be noted here that every year several people loss their lives following electrocution.
However, what the department concerned without further delay needs to do is augment the State’s existing capacity of both hydro and gas-based projects, and it should pursue with the Central Government to initiate taking up a few other time-bound projects or to release funds for the purpose. It is true that if we are really committed to promote Assam into a prime economic hub in the country for the South-East Asian nations, then ensuring supply of electricity for 24x7 hours is as vital as sound network of road, air and rail connectivity that is now, though, thankfully, available in the State.