Hydel power generation: sharp decline deepens power crisis, says minister

The sharp decline in hydel power generation from 6000 megawatts to 1600 megawatts has deepened the power crisis in the country, said Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Asharf. Speaking at a news conference here on Thursday after a meeting at National Power Control Centre (NPCC), the minister said that reason for decline in hydel power generation was release of water from Tarbela and Mangla dams to the provinces on the requests of provincial governments.
The minister wanted provincial governments to review their indents on realistic basis from Tarbela and Mangla dams enabling generation of more power to cope with the shortage of electricity.
Asharf also acknowledged that 100 percent results of energy conservation programme could not be achieved. He said power generation projects initiated by the government would be completed by the next year to achieve 6,000 megawatts power. He said the mistakes committed by the Wapda and Pepco have also contributed to the power crisis but the government is taking measures to increase the production. The construction work on Basha Dam would be started by the next year, he added.
The minister said that the country was facing worst power crisis because of shortage of 4,000 MW but the efforts are afoot to bridge the demand supply gap. All means of power generation are being explored to overcome the shortage, he added.
Earlier, the minister directed the NPCC to chalk out a plan of action on war footing basis to minimise the load management on the country. He directed that all concerned authorities should work jointly to overcome the prevailing challenge of power crisis that was adversely affecting the economy as well as the household.
The minister was given a briefing about the objectives and functions of the NPCC and was informed that because of low flow of water from Tarbela and Mangla, the hydel generation had been badly affected. Similarly the shortage of gas supply to some power plants also affected the power generation capability of number of powerhouses.
The minister also directed the ministry to approach the concerned quarters including petroleum ministry to provide the required gas to these plants for generating maximum power.