Bihar’s power woes: enough of promises, the public wants to see the roadmap and schedules now!
Patna: the latest statement from Energy minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav aims to assure that the worst in power sector in Bihar was over and from 2012 things would look up. But this is a claim to be substantiated and not to be taken as face value. Especially so since the minister in his assembly speech also told the members ‘Power sector is not an area where you get immediate results. But from the next year the efforts made by us would begin to show’.
The energy minister forgot to mention another complicating aspect of the energy problem faced by Bihar or anywhere else. Thermal power generation involves a number of issues starting from raising of the plant to supply of coal to transmission. This story with several subplots requires a roadmap which should be transparent and easily shared with the public. The energy minister is not doing that – the public as well as the investor requires a clear flow chart with detailed explanations on how and when the various plants will begin to generate electricity. On the basis of news reports on a number of projects found in sundry business papers and magazines, it seems likely that in the next five years the power situation will improve in the state.
But the energy ministry in Bihar needs to go beyond such broad hunches and provide the consumer and the investor with a clear picture on the time/schedule aspect of the entire ‘energy vision’. While the general public can make do with promises for some more time before widespread outrage and anger boil over, the investor will not be fooled by promises without a calendar.
Even as the energy minister was busy painting a robust energy picture for the state, the members of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce and the Bihar Industries Association aired their frustration over the goings on in BSEB. Reports mention that the BSEB has raised ‘fuel surcharges’ seven times in the past six months, making it tough for the industries to see any business incentive on the power front. Notably, this harsh criticism comes from our own industrialists who are likely to be more patient with the state government than the outside investor.
During his speech in the assembly, the energy minister seems to mix up the immediate view on the ground with the horizon far above – talking of Barauni, Kanti and Nabinagar in the same breath with a 1500MW hydel project in Bhutan and promises made by the centre on projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
On the whole, it is becoming clear that the energy sector will soon become the criterion for judging the performance of Nitish phase II government as the voter begins to take decent roads for granted.
Writing great headlines is very easy, but news is about fact more and less emotions. As a news writer, when we write something, we try to collect facts fist and then try to blame or praise for efforts on the basis of facts. Being emotional or sentimental for situation will never going to help anyone, as it disapproves for related facts.
As far as schedule and roadmap is concerned for power project and overall power scenario in Bihar, no one can give an exact schedule or plan. Bihar or any other state’s power scenario is more related to central plans, policies and allotment of resources to the state. From the fact related to approach on all the three above, central government is not having any clear mind for easing power problems in Bihar. On the other hand central government is trying to put more hurdles in many plans like ethonol, glycol plants and coal mines for upcoming thermal power plants in Bihar.
But, one thing is sure despite all wrong deeds by central government and ground level hurdles in implementation in new thermal and hydel power project, Bihar has done major development to lessen the demand supply gap to a bigger extent from 2012. As extensions work for existing thermal power plants will be completed by 2012, things will start to improve, then from 2013 onward every year Bihar will get additional 500-1000 MW due to functioning of new power plant in state or allotment from other sources outside state.
Overall approach of state government is little slow, but is in right direction as it is concentrating both on building new power capacity based on conventional and non-conventional type and having power purchase agreement with upcoming power projects outside Bihar.
Power scenario of any state doesn’t depend on short term policy or effort, it purely depends on long term policy and effort both from state and central government.
Thanks for the comment. Your advice in well taken. But this is not an isolated story on Bihardays. we have been following the gap between the rhetoric and the promise and the action on the ground. It is this gap which is worrying.
What you say about emotions applies to the government as well as you. it is easy for a minister for talk about scenarios without filling in the details. Strangely, you do not quote facts either despite the tremendous assurance you FEEL about the cumulative growth in power supply. This story focuses precisely on the facts or lack of them.
In brief, you are saying exactly what the government says on a good day – it is impossible to say anything precisely but precisely after 2012 things will be fine! I am surprised at this de ja vu!