Wade in the dark !!

I am writing this post with my computer running on the "“inverter"” because there has been a power cut.

Now I know that does not sound like a once in a blue moon phenomenon, rather it has become as common as the roads being dug up now and then.(refer to Wade wants a Tank)

Why there are so many power cuts? or rather as the authorities prefer to call them "“Load Shedding.

I know I am being selfish here, because staying in Mumbai I really cannot complain. The situation on the mainland is quite bad. We Mumbaites are quite buffered from the grim situation the rest of the state is facing.

I rather am very lucky staying in Mumbai because of its industrial and financial status as compared to the rest of the country. This very status gives it the topmost priority when it comes to power distribution.

As far as I know Mumbai draws heavily from Koyna Hydro-electric plant (MSEB), the hydo-electric plants of TaTa Power company situated near Khopoli, the thermal power plant situated in Uran , the Chandrapur thermal power plant etc. All of them are then linked to the Maharashtra State grid, which in turn is part of the western grid-- connecting Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. The grid is fed mainly by generators belonging to the Central Government undertakings-- the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and the Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC).

But still there are power cuts. The reasons for this are of course the war-lock "“population"”, the imbalance of the power supply strategies, lower capacities of the power stations.

The population factor is especially disturbing because of the sheer toll it takes on the whole power distribution network. I had been lucky enough to visit one of the TaTa hydro-electric power plant. They supply power to the western suburbs of Mumbai. During the visit to that state-of-art facility, we were shown some figures to understand the trends of the power consumption and one thing was sure, that the main thing causing a drastic positive increase in the slope of the consumption curve is population.

I guess it is universally agreed all over India that the power supply situation in India is pathetic so no point dwelling in it any more.

Now whoever said the Power sector is very lucrative was not talking about India. Mumbai alone required 2 GW way back in 1998, so one can guess the requirement today. Plus there are always the ever ready politicians ready to screw the power department with their kitty full of underhand techniques.

One gentlemen in particular stands out. During the elections his main electoral vote bank was the agricultural rich, sugar belt of Maharashtra, so he decides to give free power to them.

One can imagine the conversation between him and his technical advisor.

Mr. Gentleman politician: Listen, I want to build another 2-3 resorts plus buy another 200 acres which implies I need to have more money, which in turn implies I need to be in power, which implies I need to win these elections, which implies my vote-bank votes for me, which implies they are happy with me, which implies I need to make them happy.

So give them free power.

Technical Advisor (poor chap, not his fault, wrong place, wrong time , worst kind of boss) : Sir, What are you talking sir ?

Mr. Gentleman politician: You heard it right.

Technical Advisor: Sir, that'’s outrageous sir. This decision means a sucker blow to the power corporations. They will be ruined with this order.

Sir as it is the cost of coal and other utilities is growing. The maintenance costs have turned into a behemoth.

Mr. Gentleman politician: Lets pretend you never said that and I never heard it. Ok?

Of course this plan was put forth into action, but as predicted was withdrawn after a terrible backlash.

Then all round the world in the developing countries it is acknowledged that nuclear power is the best option to handle the growth demand. India too "“was"” destined for the same with a nuclear plan in place which was to use Thorium based reactors to ensure cheap and plenty of power for the national grid.

Whatever happened to that!!

Anyways "“inverter"” battery running low so got to wind up.

One last thing, due to my healthy experience of power cuts, I hereby announce a new Murphy'’s Law.

Maverick'’s law of Power cuts: The most still, humid, damp and stuffy nights always coincides with the nights with power cuts. J