‘Power cuts due to fuel shortage’
With heatwave conditions having intensified across India, the entire country is in the throes of a major power deficit.
States including UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are facing power outages running up to 16 hours in a day. Rural parts of Punjab and Haryana and also facing the brunt of lengthy power cuts.
Even a power surplus state like J&K is reeling under load-shedding forcing its chief minister Omar Abdullah to tweet that the public should start paying market price for the electricity they consume.
“Power in J&K is the second cheapest in the country after Sikkim. How about all of you, complaining about load-shedding, starting to pay market price,” Mr Abdullah tweeted.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA)in its latest update has informed that with coal-fired power plants operating at 60 per cent capacity and gas production having dipped to an all time low, electricity production is running at 141,000 MW which is 37,000 MW below capacity.
The CEA blames Coal India for meeting only 65 per cent of its targets. Domestic coal shortage is being met by imported coal which costs 60 per cent more.
Already, the BPS Statistical Review of World Energy shows that coal remains the fasted growing fossil fuel world-wide, garnering a 30 per cent share of world supplies in 2011. India’s coal consumption jumped 9.2 per cent between 2010-11 as against China’s at 9.7 per cent. A study by Deutsche Bank warns that India needs to address its coal supply and distribution issues.
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IIT-delhi panel to examine single test idea
Age Correspondent with agency inputs
New Delhi, June 21
The IIT Delhi favours retaining the existing IIT-JEE format, though it has decided to set up a committee to examine the issue. “The senate has decided to conduct its own entrance examination in coordination with other IITs, if possible. For 2014 and beyond, the senate will set up a committee which will review and propose changes ...,” a resolution passed at the end of the meeting stated.
The resolution stated that for the 2013 exam, a committee will be appointed by IIT-Delhi senate “which will coordinate the conduct of the above exam jointly with the other IITs in the country”.
Hailing the move, IIT-Delhi alumni association said it fully supports the resolution and reiterated that “should the need arise, the alumni will be taking the matter (of the government’s decision to hold the proposed exam) to court.”
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