From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Acute power shortage has crippled the functioning of normal life throughout Assam since last couple of days.
With the temperature showing a rising trend, the people and their works have suffered because of frequent load shedding resorted to by Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd.
Sources informed that shortfall in generation at thermal and hydropower plants in the region has precipitated the severe power shortage in the state.
Assam needs 1100 MW of power during the peak hours and there is a sever shortage as only about 700 MW is available these days. Similarly, about 500 MW is available during the off peak hours against the demand of over 700 MW during the off peak hours.
The state’s share of power from all the Central Sector Generating Stations (CSGS) of the Northeast is 589 MW for this month.
However, because of reduced generation from thermal and hydropower plants in Central Sector Generating Stations the state is getting less power from these plants.
The reduction in generation is due to short supply of gas to thermal power plants and less availability of water in hydropower plants.
The situation is unlikely to change for better in immediate future .
Power crisis has affected works in offices and financial institutions in the state.
The worst sufferers are however are the laboratories and Information Technology based organisations as their equipment are mostly power dependent.
An official of a research unit of Aaranyak, a premier bio-diversity institution said that their all sophisticated equipment are facing hazards due to frequent power cuts resorted to by the power distribution authority.
School children in the state are worst hit by the power scarcity, as frequent power cuts have brought the ceiling fans in their classrooms to a stop.
Most of the schools in the state suffer a lot as they don’t have any alternative sources of power to suffice the power requirements.