New Delhi, April 29 :

Industrial units in northern and western regions of India have to brace for a trying summer as power deficit is likely to go up to 20-25 per cent in May and June.

“Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the two states in which power cuts exceed 12 hours a day,” says a nationwide study conducted by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) on the power situation.

“As a result of power deficit, industrial production in states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and even Goa would have to be curtailed to the extent of 10-12 per cent.” Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the survey warned, face the worst energy shortages of around 20 per cent alread.

“Since few new capacities are emerging and transmission and distribution losses remain untamed to the extent of 60 per cent in most states, the situation is unlikely to be better in the next few months,” said chamber chief Venugopal Dhoot.

“The lack of fresh investment and modernization coupled with huge transmission losses are responsible for the grave power situation in the country which will continue.” Maharashta, one of India’s most industrialised states, is resorting to a load shedding of six-seven hours a day and is to experience peak hour power shortage of over 25-28 per cent in next two months.

“The state is facing one of the worst crises with energy deficit touching about 20 per cent, facing energy deficit of over 1,700 million units and peak deficit which exceed 4,200 megawatt.”

Madhya Pradesh has a power requirement of over 3500 million units but gets only 2,400 million units, and the situation is no better in Gujarat where the demand is 5,500 million units and the supply only 4,780 million units.

Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan are better off compared with Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Punjab, says the survey and adds theft, leakages and transmission losses were the main reasons for the deficit.

The survey says there is some ray of hope and that the use of non-conventional sources of energy, especially for domestic usage and street lightning, was among the short-term solutions recommended by experts.