Meghalaya should be thankful that when the whole country was plunged into darkness the state was lighted and only had short bursts of load shedding despite the collapse of the North Eastern Grid. We are informed that it was the Leshka project that sustained us! India’s power crisis became the talking point of the international media. They went to town on this issue almost as if they took pleasure from our collective pain. Within India there was, hopefully some soul searching. Television channels went berserk with each one trying to outdo the other on castigating the UPA Government for creating perverse history. It was the world’s worst power outage affecting over 700 million people. But wonder of wonders – Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde was promoted to the Home Ministry instead of being taken to task for such an outrage. This leaves us with the question – if Shinde could not manage Power can he manage the affairs of a country threatened by internal challenges and at the verge of implosion?
This country has never taken its power situation seriously. Even the supply of power to different states is dictated by the compulsions of coalition politics. India has compromised everything at the deadly altar of politics. Energy deficiency is a matter of concern for India. Attempts to generate nuclear and hydel power has met with stiff resistance from peoples’ groups the first out of fear of nuclear explosion a la Fukushima, the second due to displacement and poor relief and rehabilitation packages for displaced populations. China our not so friendly neighbour on the other hand has explored all avenues of power generation from wind energy to gas, thermal, solar and hydro electricity. China has invested in power projects in Myanmar and is systematically trying to build up its power reserves. It can therefore be rightly called a superpower in the making and with the right credentials. It invests in what it believes in. India on the other hand is plagued by power politics, corruption and a governance paralysis of immense dimensions. This has spoilt the party for us. The high GDP growth of a couple of years ago has slipped away to some insignificant figure and no one talks about it anymore. Inflation has hit the sky and with states overdrawing power and not being penalised for doing so, we are in for bad times. A major shake-up of some kind is needed. Perhaps this will also accentuate the need for better leadership which the present prime minister is woefully incapable of providing.