Awareness event on power a damp squib

bellary: an awareness programme arranged by the power grid corporation of india limited at the behest of the central ministry of power, on thursday, to create awareness among consumers about power sector reforms and energy conservation, turned out to be a damp squib with thin attendance. at the zilla panchayat conference hall where the programme was arranged, only 14 persons turned up much to the embarrassment of the organisers.the event was part of an ambitious plan by union minister of power suresh p. prabhu to spread the message of energy conservation. those who turned up were deputy commissioner jawaid akhtar, three officials from the central power grid also organisers of the programme, two officials from karnataka power transmission corporation limited (kptcl), a couple of representatives from the industrial sector and the remaining were assistants of the departments and a couple of mediapersons. akhtar regretted that programmes like this without representatives from non-governmental organisations and the farming community would be a mere waste. in fact, the programme included presentations and film shows on the ``national goal-reliable, affordable and quality power to all by 2012'', the visuals arranged to explain these points were seen by none as even those who attended the programme did not seem to be interested. to top it all, the visuals were poorly arranged and lacked clarity. the screen was not fixed properly and at one stage the dc tried to alter the position. but u.m. maiya, chief manager, power grid, explained that the programme had been divided into two phases, the other two will be conducted with the involvement of farmers and students. akhtar said until the power reforms were implemented effectively, the problems in the sector will remain acute and will increase particularly in the agricultural sector which consumes 50 per cent of total power production. akhtar felt at least as an interim solution to this burning problem, the surplus in the northern power grid must be transferred to the south and to the sectors where the power problem is acute. the dc warned that the entire system goes into array if the discrepancies were not set right. he added power worth rs 20,000 crore was slipping out of the kptcl hands due to thefts. ``this is alarming and should be plugged.'' the visuals dwelt over problems like power theft causing annual loss to the state electricity boards; gap between cost supply and revenue realisation resulting in further annual loss of rs 26,000 crore; consequent mounting arrears to the tune of rs 40,000 crore to central public centre units (psus); coal companies and railways, high transmission and distribution losses causing further revenue losses. it was also highlighted that to realise the goal of power on demand by 2012, an estimated amount of rs 8 crore has to be invested to add an additional generation capacity of 1,07,000 mega watts and associated transmission and distribution networks. this gigantic task could be possible only with huge investment to the tune of rs 8,00,000 crore by all sectors --public and private sectors --and national and international financial institutions. to make this a reality, the power sector has to be made commercially viable and healthy with sweeping reforms, the participants asserted.