New Delhi, June 10 (IANS): Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal Tuesday assured that the power situation in the national capital, which is facing acute electricity crisis during the sweltering summer, will be solved within two weeks.
The announcement follows an emergency meeting between Goyal, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and officials to discuss the steps to be taken to tackle the power crisis.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Goyal said: "It normally takes three months to restore lines after the damage we saw. We'll work 24x7 and get them up in two weeks."
But, he added, the internal deadline for officials is 10 days.
The city's power supply was affected following a severe storm last month which caused many lines of the Northern Grid to trip.
Goyal said the storm and the soaring summer temperatures had an effect on power distribution.
"Emergency restoration is underway," he added.
With no respite from the heat, power outages in parts of the city last for several hours and also affect water supply in many localities, adding to the woes of Delhiites.
Claiming that the previous government's lack of decision making has added to the electricity crisis in Delhi, Goyal said: "Policy paralysis and poor execution by previous government is responsible for power crisis in the capital."
He added: "For the last 15 years we had a government which was insensitive to the growing demands of the people of Delhi".
Goyal also said that a gas-fired power generation plant at Bawana in west Delhi has a capacity of producing 1,500 MW of electricity, but was producing only 290 MW.
"We have decided to provide extra gas of 400 MW into the grid for the restoration of electricity in Delhi. The gas will be provided by NTPC," he said.
"Power companies have already taken steps to permanently restore these lines by two weeks latest," the minister added.
Goyal said they are trying to find a long-term solution so that these problems do not crop up in the city next summer.
He also assured chief ministers of other states that adequate electricity will be provided in times of need as the centre is having surplus power.