HOW TO PROVIEDE 24 HRS ELECTRICITY TO VILLAGES !

This was an idea from a member in the Lokasatta party community....

To be frank under the present circumstances its not possible but by bringing reforms and price and distribution changes we can provide 24 hours power supply to through out Andhra Pradesh.

Here the facts(perhaps you all know) that I would like to bring to our discussion.

1. At present rate of distribution we can charge just 48% of total production. That means out of 100 units we produce we are able to draw bills for 48 units.

2. Meaningless and wasteful subsidies to all, right now AP Transco is not even collecting 25% of the production costs. Remaining money is borne by the state exchequer, in rude terms our Mandubablu(sachi chedi tagi mari mana rasthraniki velugunistnarru).

If we rationalize our subsidy regime we can reduce government money on subsidies which can be used fruitfully for expansion of our thermal power stations.

Next, reducing transmission losses. For example, if we reduce transmission losses on par with our neighboring China, Andhra Pradesh does not require any expansion of thermal power stations for the next 10 years. If it is on par with European Union, for the next 15 years we don't require any additional power plants(I am not saying we should not have new power plants).

Efficiency of the power plants, right now, in India, the avg efficiency of power plant to convert coal to power stands at 27%(lowest in the world) where as in other developing and developed world its more than 40%(remember its not possible to even 50% any where in the world).

Its all ok, after all power generation is more important too.

This country and the state has enormous amount of coal resources that for the next 300 years we need not import any energy sources(including petrol if we all use coal generated electricity for our energy needs) but we are importing coal from Australia due to cheap price. So why again we are facing power cuts and lower power generation. It simple due to the fact that our leaders have myopic vision rather grand vision.

How Loksatta can achieve these goals. Simple, instead of playing one man hero role and Messiahs of masses, JP and LSP ministers will sit with best minds in the country and to implement these goals.

Our present leaders don't know any one of these facts nor they care for them. They care only for free power to farmers.

Why quote China or Japan, look at one of our Indian state Gujarat, neither free power nor subsidized power, but 24 hours power supply to all villages(remember this achievement is with complete prohibition in the state). Apart from this, Gujarat is not endowed with natural resources like Andhra Pradesh.

Its natural for Ambanis and Tatas to invest in Gujarat(power surplus state in India). Its like more reforms lead to more investment and it leads to higher revenues for the state and more jobs to Gujaratis.

I firmly believe in the leadership of JP sir for his guts to implement reforms to achieve these goals, in fact it possible even if his ideas are considered even by the ruling party now.

(Inputs from Imagining India by Nandan Nelikeni and Friedman's new book, 'Hot, Flat and Crowded')

hmmm, atleast now I have a reason to vote Loksatta if possible !...