Newly-appointed power minister M. Veerappa Moily on Wednesday reassured the nation that a national transmission grid collapse of the kind seen earlier in the week would never recur in future.
'I want to reassure the entire nation that [the power grid collapse] will never be replayed again in the national scene,' said Moily addressing mediapersons here the day after the nation's worst power blackout that affected almost half the country.
India has the largest power grid, or national transmission network, in the world and Moily said that Tuesday's breakdown, affecting a consumer load of 55,000 megawatt power, was a matter of utmost concern. Grid normalcy had now been restored and 'the most important task is that this normalcy is hundred percent sustained and that it (grid collapse) will not repeat again'.
The new power minister clarified that states are the main stakeholders in the national power system and a major responsibility devolves on them to exercise restraint and show 'grid discipline' by drawing only the power assigned to them.
'We don't want a blame game. The way is to resolve problems and conflicts through mutual cordiality, collaboration, consultation and cooperation. Constant consultation is the only way out,' counselled Moily.
To this end, the minister has convened a meeting 6 Aug of the chief ministers of eight states and the union territories affected by this week's blackout.
Some specific preventive measures like curbing overdrawal of power by states, levy of grid congestion charges and identifying fault lines on transmission routes were also being considered, said Moily.
The minister also underlined the vital need to have the latest systems and technology in place, and ensure total integrity in the professional management of the system.
'Reforms and constant change of system are essential to ensure that such breakdowns do not recur. Enough funds have been allocated in the 12th Plan for training of personnel for professional management of the system,' Moily said.
He also informed mediapersons that an expert committee had been constituted to examine all aspects of the blackout, and that he had a 'brainstorming session' with its members.
GOVERNMENT RESTORES POWER BUT JITTERS REMAIN
Monday's failure of the northern network, followed by the expanded collapse of all three grids after midday Tuesday caused chaos across a vast region, paralysing transport networks.
Hundreds of miners were trapped underground for hours in the eastern states of West Bengal and Jharkhand, metro services were stopped temporarily in the capital New Delhi and hundreds of trains were held up nationwide.
New power minister Veerappa Moily, who was appointed to the post in a Cabinet reshuffle even as Tuesday's unprecedented crisis was still playing out, admitted he faced an enormous task in restoring public confidence. 'It is a very difficult and challenging situation, and solutions will have to be found,' Moily said in a series of interviews with Indian television networks, one of which was interrupted by a blackout. According to senior ministry officials, the two successive days of grid failure had been triggered by energy-hungry states drawing power beyond their allocated limits. 'I'm not going to start with a blame game. The Centre and the states will have to work together on this,' Moily said.
'The fact is that energy demand across India is huge, and we have to try and keep in touch with the pace of development,' he added.
The massive power cuts left Indians angry and frustrated in cities across the affected region, as they struggled through gridlocked streets in the humid monsoon heat. Wednesday's newspapers were predictably critical of the government, saying it lacked the political will to implement long called for reforms in the power sector.
'Powerless and Clueless,' ran the front-page headline in the Times of India, while the Economic Times splashed with 'Superpower India, RIP'. Business lobby group the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimated the losses to small and large business in billions of rupees (tens of millions of dollars) and said India's investment image abroad had taken a major hit.
The repeated outages 'carry a very negative image of India, when already sentiments about the country are low on account of the current economic situation,' CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement. Agencies
DON'T BLAME UP: AKHILESH
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that it was not right to blame Uttar Pradesh for the recent grid failure. 'It is a matter of investigation... it is not right to blame Uttar Pradesh for grid failure,' Akhilesh told reporters.
'What the previous government [Mayawati regime] did in this sector is a big question... till production is not increased, this problem cannot be solved,' he said, adding that the power distribution system, transformers and lines were in a dismal state and his government has initiated strong measures to rectify them.
'I want to reassure the entire nation that [the power grid collapse] will never be replayed again in the national scene,' said Moily addressing mediapersons here the day after the nation's worst power blackout that affected almost half the country.
India has the largest power grid, or national transmission network, in the world and Moily said that Tuesday's breakdown, affecting a consumer load of 55,000 megawatt power, was a matter of utmost concern. Grid normalcy had now been restored and 'the most important task is that this normalcy is hundred percent sustained and that it (grid collapse) will not repeat again'.
The new power minister clarified that states are the main stakeholders in the national power system and a major responsibility devolves on them to exercise restraint and show 'grid discipline' by drawing only the power assigned to them.
'We don't want a blame game. The way is to resolve problems and conflicts through mutual cordiality, collaboration, consultation and cooperation. Constant consultation is the only way out,' counselled Moily.
To this end, the minister has convened a meeting 6 Aug of the chief ministers of eight states and the union territories affected by this week's blackout.
Some specific preventive measures like curbing overdrawal of power by states, levy of grid congestion charges and identifying fault lines on transmission routes were also being considered, said Moily.
The minister also underlined the vital need to have the latest systems and technology in place, and ensure total integrity in the professional management of the system.
'Reforms and constant change of system are essential to ensure that such breakdowns do not recur. Enough funds have been allocated in the 12th Plan for training of personnel for professional management of the system,' Moily said.
He also informed mediapersons that an expert committee had been constituted to examine all aspects of the blackout, and that he had a 'brainstorming session' with its members.
GOVERNMENT RESTORES POWER BUT JITTERS REMAIN
Monday's failure of the northern network, followed by the expanded collapse of all three grids after midday Tuesday caused chaos across a vast region, paralysing transport networks.
Hundreds of miners were trapped underground for hours in the eastern states of West Bengal and Jharkhand, metro services were stopped temporarily in the capital New Delhi and hundreds of trains were held up nationwide.
New power minister Veerappa Moily, who was appointed to the post in a Cabinet reshuffle even as Tuesday's unprecedented crisis was still playing out, admitted he faced an enormous task in restoring public confidence. 'It is a very difficult and challenging situation, and solutions will have to be found,' Moily said in a series of interviews with Indian television networks, one of which was interrupted by a blackout. According to senior ministry officials, the two successive days of grid failure had been triggered by energy-hungry states drawing power beyond their allocated limits. 'I'm not going to start with a blame game. The Centre and the states will have to work together on this,' Moily said.
'The fact is that energy demand across India is huge, and we have to try and keep in touch with the pace of development,' he added.
The massive power cuts left Indians angry and frustrated in cities across the affected region, as they struggled through gridlocked streets in the humid monsoon heat. Wednesday's newspapers were predictably critical of the government, saying it lacked the political will to implement long called for reforms in the power sector.
'Powerless and Clueless,' ran the front-page headline in the Times of India, while the Economic Times splashed with 'Superpower India, RIP'. Business lobby group the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimated the losses to small and large business in billions of rupees (tens of millions of dollars) and said India's investment image abroad had taken a major hit.
The repeated outages 'carry a very negative image of India, when already sentiments about the country are low on account of the current economic situation,' CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement. Agencies
DON'T BLAME UP: AKHILESH
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Monday that it was not right to blame Uttar Pradesh for the recent grid failure. 'It is a matter of investigation... it is not right to blame Uttar Pradesh for grid failure,' Akhilesh told reporters.
'What the previous government [Mayawati regime] did in this sector is a big question... till production is not increased, this problem cannot be solved,' he said, adding that the power distribution system, transformers and lines were in a dismal state and his government has initiated strong measures to rectify them.