Guwahati, Sept 11: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday informed that the State is looking for options to meet its power requirements as the demand for power has spiked to unprecedented levels, which the State is unable to meet from its own power sources, presently.

Replying to an adjournment motion in the Assembly on the first day of the autumn session, the CM said the peak hour demand in the State has increased by nearly 900 MW in 4 years, and over 500 MW within a year.

He stated that the peak hour demand was about 1,600 MW in 2018-19, it was at 1,800 MW in the next two years and reached 1,970 MW in 2022-23, but it shot up to an incredible 2,500 MW this year.

“Even I do not know what happened, it is very unprecedented. The state is anticipating the peak hour demand to reach 3,000 MW next year and 4,000 MW by the time this government’s term ends in 2026,” he remarked.

Earlier, moving the adjournment motion, Congress MLA Bharat Chandra Narah said the government should procure power from an open source to meet the demand. The government has money for various schemes, including crores for a plantation drive. It can use some of the money to ensure that the people get electricity during such hot conditions, he said.

“In Assam the peak hour production is 250 MW and our peak our demand is 2500 MW, so in the adjournment motion we pushed the government for increasing our own power production,” said Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi.

However, CM Sarma downplayed the crisis, instead terming as prosperity of the people of the State. “While the government is analysing the reasons for the sudden spike, people’s prosperity has contributed to it, along with increased business activities, as more industries are preparing to open factories in the state, the demand will further increase and the government is preparing to meet it,” he reasoned.

Assam which is facing its hottest September yet; it recorded its highest-ever September temperature with mercury crossing 39.4 degrees last week. Burdened with huge power to demand gap, the government has imposed scheduled power cuts.

Also Read: 2,000-3,000 to be arrested soon for child marriage in Assam: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/nemediahub