Electricity is our basic need

Use of electricity is a measure of progress. We have increased our power supply  so much that we make 2 lakh MW of power; we have precisely generation capacity of 202980 MW.India’s growth is reflected in the amount of electricity it produces. We spend only 2% of our GDP for energy, but we still have big results.But demand for electricity is very very high.

Electrification of all villages is our national goal. How electricity is distributed is determined by our politics. 17% of villages in India do not have electricity. Of those 83% which have electricity only 31% of the inhabitants in them are able to afford electricity. We do provide subsidies to BPL (Below Poverty Line families) but still they are not able to afford electricity. Free electricity is given to farmers to run their motors which draw water from their wells.

To a great extent, private public partnership has led to the growth of power sector in India.55937 Mega watts of power has been mobilized by private power companies. 27% of electricity produced was from partnerships with private companies while Central government makes 30% and  State government make 43%. 56% of power is from coal, and 20% from hydro plants and 10% from gas and 2% is nuclear, there is power from wind also.

32% of total electricity produced is illegally siphoned off or stolen (we must find a way to stop this). There are 30 crore Indians who do not have electricity.  Only with 2% of the electricity produced we can provide for these 30 crores who have no electricity. But power politics in the distribution of power stops us from this equitable sharing of progress.

Nuclear power gives 4780 Mega watts now; by 2017, ten thousand more Mega watts will be available for use from nuclear sources. Now, we use mainly coal for making electricity; we must switch over to cleaner way to produce electricity. There are lots of gaps which make coal energy uncertain, lack of infrastructures to bring coal to plants is lacking. Sometimes coal will be shipped from the mines by trucks to the nearest railway line which would be 60 Kilo meters away. Country has much potential in hydro electric power, but it is not yet harnessed. Many rivers in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttranchal can provide us with electricity. Without affecting the life of the local inhabitants, we should be able to build hydro electric power infrastructures. We can share hydroelectric power with Nepal where there are many rivers and dams can be made. Many states have started using wind mills for generating electric power successfully. Individuals have made their homes solar powered without depending on utilities. The demand may be high, but there are the limits which the environment imposes on us. We can only burn so much coal per day  given our present infrastructural capabilities;and more and more is not possible. We must realize the limits and not aspire for so much. All important gadgets today are run by electricity. We can conserve electricity by making bulbs which consume less power. We can switch to water coolers (using less power) instead of air-conditioners. We have to pay 26% more for electricity per unit from July 1 this year.If we use gadgets which utilize less electricity, then our electric bills would be lesser and we can share electricity with all.And only when we share electricity, 'the right to basic need of electricity' becomes achievable and meaningful.


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