Nagaland’s Summer Outages
As mercury level is slowly beginning to rise, people of Nagaland, especially dwelling in humid areas like Dimapur, should brace for
more frequent and long hours of power outages.
- As mercury level is slowly beginning to rise, people of
Nagaland, especially dwelling in humid areas like Dimapur, should brace for
more frequent and long hours of power outages. This is not something new, as
load shedding comes along with summer, due to a huge spike in power
consumption, as citizens increase use of electronic devices like air
conditioners, electric coolers, ceiling fans, etc., to beat the heat. Erratic
power supply is one of the most talked-about topics in the state, perhaps only
next to roads. Legislators have discussed the crisis both in the assembly and
outside, expressing concern over substantial annual revenue loss of about INR
300 crore on the purchase of power. The concerned department has been lamenting
the delay in payment of electricity bills by the consumers and rampant power
theft, which it said, is not helping its quest for providing uninterrupted
power supply. The situation is not getting any better due to ever-increasing
power demand, chiefly driven by rapid urbanisation and compounded by resistance
to the installation of smart prepaid meters. Amid this backdrop, Chief Minister
Neiphiu Rio announced the roadmap for a sustainable energy and power solutions,
stressing solar energy besides upgrading the existing power stations. It was a
breath of fresh air.
- In his budget speech delivered earlier this month, Rio said
his government would encourage rooftop solar installations via the Nagaland
Solar Power Mission by providing a subsidy of INR 20,000 per kW, up to a
maximum of INR 50,000 per consumer. He also allocated a fund for the
construction of three 33 KVA sub-station lines in Mon and Phek besides
upgrading the existing 33 KVA sub-stations. Besides this ambitious mission, the
state has a few mini hydro-electric projects in the pipeline, and then there is
the stalled 186 MW Dikhu Hydro Electric Power (DHEP). If all goes as planned
and these projects come to fruition, the state will be able to kill two birds
with one stone – reduce the state’s revenue loss and lessen the power crisis.
It all comes down to effective implementation and timely completion.
Considering the importance of uninterrupted power supply for development –
social, economic and infrastructural – the state government should prioritise
this sector. Besides power projects and other alternative solutions, reforms
like overhauling of electricity management and improvement of the billing
system are necessary to curb revenue loss from the power sector. Public also
should co-operate and take accountability by installing smart pre-paid meters
and paying bills on time.
