The Hindu Business Line : Not a question of generation

This has reference to the editorial "Powerless" (Business Line, April 10). While it makes the point that the power-cuts are essentially due to inadequate generating capacity, the reality is that they are the result of inefficient management of existing capacity.

With a high level of Transmission and Distribution losses, ineffective demand-side management, very low level of energy conservation, and the reluctant deployment of new and renewable energy sources, it is safe to conclude that any amount of additional generation will not be able to bridge the gap fully for a growing population such as India's. Also, unless projects are managed well, without the cost and time overruns, the planners can never hope to realise all the planned projects in time.

What we need is a combination of measures to address all these areas of concern simultaneously without worrying only about additional generating capacity.

If our society is as serious as the articles in the media regarding the climate change seem to indicate, we should demand that the power sector puts in place urgent measures to increase efficiency and explore all other techno-economically viable options to meet the electricity demand before talking about additional generation capacity.

Shankar Sharma

Mysore

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