Power for All :Experts show how electricity for poor people is possible

India is home to the largest number of people without electricity. Half of Indian households do not have access to power, which constitute a third of the world’s population without electricity. Though electricity generation has increased by 60 per cent in the last decade, it has only led to about a 10 per cent increase in access for households. This means that the bulk of the fresh generation capacity is consumed by the existing customers leaving the have-nots largely untouched.

A recent paper by the Prayas Energy Group tackles the issue of electricity for all head on. The 40-page study called “Electricity for all: Ten ideas towards turning rhetoric into reality” does what the name suggests; it simplifies the problem to assert that equitable power generation and distribution is not rocket science. more

Unravelling the Power Sector Enigma

So far, all solutions being sought to be implemen-ted in the distribution utilities to reduce losses are engineering solutions. But, the utilities also need to look at the managerial solutions as well. —Sunil Mitra, Secretary, Ministry of Disinvestment

I do not agree with the perception that the existing staff cannot be retrained for this purpose. It is a question of (a) motivation and (b) our taking up appropriate changes in our organisational structures. —B K Chautrvedi, Member, Planning Commission

One must remember that the increased use of technology brings in greater transparency and greater transparency always leads to greater resistance from those opposed to change. —G D Gautama, Power Secretary, West Bengal

If there is one sector in the country where everyone-policy-makers, the bureaucracy, the industry and the civil society-knows what the problems and what the solutions are, it is the power sector. But it is in the implementation of the solutions that the difference seems to arise: for some, the answer to power sector woes lies in correcting the demand-supply gap, i.e, by increasing generation capacity; for others, the solution lies in increasing the coverage by expanding the distribution reach; while for yet others, the solution lies in cutting down on the transmission and distribution (T&D) losses. Increasingly, however, the realisation is setting in that all three arms of the power chain will have to be tackled simultaneously, if the situation is to change for the better. more


A K Verma, MD Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd

Gujarat An Empowering Example

Various parts of the e-Urja project are at different stages of implementation and by early 2010, all the services will be online —A K Verma, CMD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd

Taking power reforms to the grassroots level, Gujarat is an example that most states need to emulate

There are few states in India that can claim to provide almost round-the-clock power to its villages and Gujarat is one of them. It is also one of the few states in the country that can claim to offer a minimum of eight-hour power supply for agricultural purposes. All this has been the result of electricity reforms and strict observance of law, which have reduced transmission losses and theft.

In fact, Gujarat is one of the few states in the country where the per capita consumption of power is way above the national average: 1,354 units against the national average of only 665 units. Says A K Verma, MD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd, the improved power situation in the state is the result of action-oriented schemes like the Jyoti GramYojana. For the rest of India, this might only turn out to be a reality in the year 2012 if the Central Government is able to implement its 'Power for all Scheme'. more