North India power starved, but Himachal 'powerful'

Shimla, July 5 While most north Indian states suffer power outages, Himachal Pradesh is generating optimum electricity, mainly from hydropower, despite delay in monsoon rains so far, but finding lack of buyers is leaving the state virtually 'powerless' financially.

Officials told on Monday that besides the hydroelectric power generation from all state-run projects reached the optimum level of 550 lakh units per day, the cash-starved distribution companies of other states, which were earlier procuring electricity in bulk, are opting for power cuts.

"The hydropower generation in some 70 state-owned projects, all over 25 MW, is between 500 and 550 lakh units per day. Despite scanty monsoon rains, the daily generation is optimum due to sufficient flow of water in rivers owing to the melting of glaciers," an official with state's directorate of energy told .

He said the state's demand is 300 lakh units daily, while the rest is supplied to Punjab, Delhi, Goa, among others, as per their demand. The daily per unit rate to these states varies from Rs 2.50 to Rs 5, which is quite low.

"Even the distribution companies are shirking to enter into long-term purchase agreements," he added.

Hydroelectric power generation in Himachal increases in summer, whereas it comes down to just 20 per cent during winter