HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 9: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called on union power
minister, RK Singh at his official residence here on Saturday.
The chief minister briefed the power minister about the unprecedented 26 per cent
increase in power demand due to growth of productive sectors of the economy.
Power minister Singh assured that he would consider the personal request of the chief
minister to allocate at least 300MW of power to Assam to tide over the current power
deficit.
Later, taking to X (formerly Twitter), the chief minister said, “Had an excellent discussion
with Hon’ble Union Power Minister Shri RK Singh ji. I briefed him on the unprecedented
26% increase in power demand due to growth of productive sectors of the economy.
He has assured to kindly consider my personal request to allocate at least 300 MW of
power to Assam, which will aid in tiding over the current power deficit.”
Earlier, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke to media persons and said that load
shedding is being personally monitored. He further added that in the past, we needed
1,800 megawatts (MW), but this year, we need 2,500 MW.
CM Sarma stated, “We do not have so much electricity as of now and if we must buy
electricity, then the power tariff will be hiked by Rs1.”
In the meantime, CM Sarma explained that the state government has partnered with a
number of businesses for the following year to increase the MW so that residents can
continue to receive power.