Haves and Have-Nots of Energy Sector”

 

                                                                   By : S.K.Sood

As per the  newspaper reports, Mr. R.V.Shahi, Power Secretary ,Govt. of India,  has projected  funds requirements to the tune of Rs. 9,00,000 Crores in 10 th and 11 th five year plans for fresh capacity additions and to meet the cost of renovation and modernization of existing electricity transmission and distribution network.

 

Probably, an equal amount will be spent by state governments and private sector to increase the power generation capacity. Other central governments ministries like Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Coal, etc will also be spending huge amounts to meet energy requirements of the people.

 

My estimate is that we will be spending not less than Rs 50,00, 000 Crores in the next 8-10 years to meet our energy requirements. This is in addition to what will be spent to create infrastructure to transport energy like railways, shipping etc.

 

After spending such huge amounts what we will be getting? Same power cuts, power thefts, poor quality power, pollution? And will our villages get power and fuels?

 

 We have been spending about 30 % of our budget to meet the energy requirement. Our import bill for petroleum products has already crossed Rs 80,000 Crores mark.

 

 A serious look into the whole matter will reveal that we need to take hard decisions on our energy policy, if any. We have to increase our budget substantially for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy technologies. Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources and Bureau of Energy Efficiency have to come forward with a concrete plan to reduce dependency on the conventional ways of meeting the demand. 

 

Presently, how many people are involved in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, petroleum products, coal etc.?  And in comparison, how many people are engaged in conservation of energy and generation of renewable energy?  Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies can provide jobs with lesser investment.

 

The fact that remains in the end is - like other walks of life, energy sector also has its "haves" and "have-nots". People propagating energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies belong to the later category. Of-course within the "haves", there are "have-nots" and within "have-nots," there are "haves". I am a pure "have-not" of Energy Sector!

 

(S.K.Sood)

94, Kunjan Nagar, Ph-2,

Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal-462026

 E-mail: sunilsolar@yahoo.co.in Ph. 0755-3132792