Kohima: The power shortage in Nagaland has reached an alarming stage as hydro generating stations fail to generate to their full potential, a government official informed.
Engineer-in-chief of the Department of Power, Moa Aier informed that in the Northeast region, there is a reduced capacity of hydro generating stations and shutdowns of thermal power stations for maintenance.
Hydro power is a primary source of electricity in the region, making it highly susceptible to fluctuations in water availability. Additionally, the shutdown of major thermal power stations has further strained the power availability situation as per the officer.
Over the years, while the demand for electricity has steadily increased, the rate of increase has outpaced the growth in supply. He cited that the peak demand in the 1990s was around 60MW, but it has since surged to 180MW, marking a staggering 300% increase. However, the current availability stands at only about 100MW during peak hours, leading to substantial deficits.
As a result, the cost of power purchase has been escalating annually, posing financial challenges for the authorities.
In light of these circumstances, he urged consumers to utilise electricity judiciously and ensure timely payment of monthly bills. Furthermore, the department urged Village Councils to assist in clearing vegetation near power transmission and distribution lines to minimise interruptions.
Presently, the state heavily relies on imported power, accounting for 90% of its total consumption. The officer emphasised the importance of maintaining power installations and discouraged any actions by any organisation that may disrupt the power availability, as it would exacerbate the existing instability.
To address the long-term energy needs of the region, he said that the department is actively pursuing several hydro power generation projects, alongside the expansion of transmission and distribution infrastructure. He sought the cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives for the benefit of the people.
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In light of the upcoming HSLC and HSSLC exams, he informed that the department is prioritising efforts to improve power stability and ensure uninterrupted supply.
“However additional power in the spot market is not always readily available and availability vary from time to time. The Department shall therefore be making all efforts to buy as per availability on the spot market to ease the power situation in the State,” he added.
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