ENERGY

In the last four decades, energy generation in our state represented by installed capacity went up by nearly 25 times. Despite this, however there is power shortage.

The greater demand on energy for the industries along with subsidisation in the agricultural sector have caused economic stress due to the high cost of energy transmission and distribution. A solution suggested to tide over this problem has been that there should be a balance between energy production and demand by increasing the installed capacity of power generation as well as by proper management in distribution. This scheme however smacks more of crisis management than any proper plan of action with long-term benefits.

One point that is clear is that any further dependence on thermal power by way of increasing its installed capacity will worsen the air pollution, at the same time causing heavy metal accumulation in our rivers. Coal, petroleum products electricity are all forms of energy being used for various purposes mainly comforts to our lives. In other words, economic growth has become energy - intensive which could be quite detrimental for a developing country like ours. It hasto be understood, surely and clearly, that excessive consumption of energy affects both environment as well as human life.

There has been tremendous growth in the use of electricity in several areas over the last 50 years. Agriculture has been its largest beneficiary. A substantial area could be brought under cultivation by using electricity for irrigation purposes. This has helped reduce disparities between regions and between small and large farmers.

The next best beneficiary has been the industry. Industrial growth in our state was promoted by electricity. Growth and development in future too depends substantially on the growth of electric power generation and distribution.

Other forms of energy, namely, petroleum, coal and nuclear energy are entirely under the control of the Government of India. In Singareni Collieries, however, the state government has a majority ownership. This, however, does not mean much because it is the Government of India which has a major say in the coal industry as a whole, since it has the other coalfields under its control. Decisions relating to the pricing and investment are therefore made by the Government of India in respect of all forms of energy.