Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has revealed that the state is grappling with a near exhaustion of its power generation capacity from its own sources.
The surge in electricity demand this year has led to this situation, and the government is actively seeking ways to meet the increasing power demand.
During a discussion in the state assembly on the power scenario, Chief Minister Sarma stated that Assam has experienced a sudden and unprecedented rise in electricity demand during peak hours. He highlighted the significant increase over the years, noting that the peak hour demand was approximately 1,600 MW in 2018-19, rose to 1,800 MW in the following two years, and reached 1,970 MW in 2022-23, reported NDTV.
"This is the first time the demand touched 2,500 MW. Even I do not know what happened; it is unprecedented. The state is anticipating the peak hour demand to reach 3,000 MW next year and 4,000 MW by the time his government's term ends in 2026," he added.
The Opposition has criticised the government's handling of the issue. Congress MLA Bharat Chandra Narah called for the government to procure power from alternative sources to meet the demand.
Responding to the criticism, Chief Minister Sarma explained that the government is analysing the reasons behind the sudden surge in demand.
He pointed out that increased prosperity and business activities in the state have contributed to the increased demand for electricity. With more industries planning to establish factories in Assam, the demand is expected to continue rising, and the government is preparing to address it.
The Chief Minister clarified that Assam currently has no additional power generation capacity unless it opts for a coal-based plant in Margherita. However, this option faces environmental challenges, and the government is committed to protecting the state's biodiversity.
The opposition Congress party has criticised the BJP for failing to fulfil its promise of providing 24-hour power in the state.