Bihar beats power-starved Gujarat

Gujarat’s power supply in 2008-09 was so shockingly insufficient that it nearly dethroned Bihar as India’s dark capital of power deficit.

Gujarat’s peak demand power deficit was as high as 24.3%, while Bihar was the most power-strapped state, with 27.6% deficit. Other backward states, such as UP and Orissa, fared better than Gujarat with deficits of 22% and 2.4% respectively.

This comparison does not include the deficit figures of states in the North-East, and Jammu and Kashmir. Data available with the Central Electricity Authority shows that in Gujarat, the maximum demand of 11841 megawatt for peak hours was seen in April 2008. The maximum supply of 8960 MW was recorded in March 2009, creating a deficit of 24.3% in the previous year.

Month-wise data shows that the greatest deficit was registered in April 2008 when the state needed 11841 MW power but had only 8462 MW. This left it with a deficit of 28.5%.

The peak hour deficit was 24.6% in May 2008; 21% in June 2008; and 18% in October 2008. Overall, power deficit in the state was at 10 % for 2008-09.
Experts say that huge demand for power is responsible for the deficit. "Gujarat is a prosperous and highly industrialised state," said KK Bajaj, an energy expert and the director of Consumer Education and Research Centre. "That is why there is a strong demand for power from households as well as industrial units." He said that the demand from the agriculture sector also added to the power deficit. "It shows the government’s inability to generate enough power to meet the demand,” Bajaj said.