No power cuts during Commonwealth Games, assures Dikshit

New Delhi, Jul 1 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today assured that there will be no power shortage during upcoming Commonwealth Games while cautioned all private discoms to upgrade their systems.

''There will be no power shortage and no loadshedding during the Commonwealth Games. Even these days, when the temperature is soaring, there have been not much complaints of such shortage and we have been able to meet the challenges,'' Ms Dikshit told mediapersons.

The Chief Minister stated this almost a week after she directed the power distribution companies to ensure uninterrupted power supply to meet the rising demand.

Admitting to the two major power projects at Bawana and Jhajjar running behind schedule, the Chief Minister explained that there have been certain problems faced by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) due to which the delay has
occurred.

However, she maintained that the national capital will face no power shortage anytime during the Games and also claimed that in next five years the city will be able to produce three times more power than present.

''We have achieved such great heights and I am hopeful that in next five years, Delhi will be able to produce 15,000 MW of electricity and may sell to other states too,'' Ms Dikshit said.

Giving a word of caution to the power companies, Delhi Transco Ltd (DTL), Indraprastha Power Generation Company Ltd(IPGCL) and Delhi Power Company Ltd (DPCL), she said there was a need to upgrade the systems being used currently. ''In times when the nature doesn't help us, we have to perform better and for that our systems have to be perfect,'' she said.

She added that losses due to power theft has already come down to around 19 per cent from 52 per cent. ''But we are aiming to reduce it further to at least 11 per cent,'' she said.

The Chief Minister was speaking on the sidelines of the eighth foundation day of the three discoms celebrated here today. Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and IPGCL MD R K Gaur were among the other dignitaries present on the occasion.

IPGCL spokesperson said the work at Bawana power plant is in full swing. ''It is expected that at least two gas turbines will be commissioned before the Commonwealth Games,'' he said. He expressed hope that the first unit of Aravali Power Company
Ltd which is a joint venture of IPGCL with Haryana Power Generation Corporation Ltd (HPGCL) and NTPC will also start generating power before the Games.