Despite recommendations of the Rangarajan Committee and the Prime Minister's Reconstruction package, much of which is dedicated to power sector, non-transfer of two major projects to Jammu and Kashmir by the union power ministry has dashed all hopes of addressing the issue of acute power shortage and consequent drainage state's scarce revenue.

Power situation continues worsening with the average generation this May falling below the generation during the same period in the past year amid assurance of the interim government of better power supply after mid-May. The frequency of power outages has increased in the past few days because of a decline in power generation although the power agencies started withdrawing supply from irrigation as the boro season nears end.

Acknowledged as one of the biggest sources of pollution in the Capital, the coal-based Indraprastha power plant should not be allowed to operate till 2010 as has been proposed by the Delhi Government, say experts. The Indraprastha plant along with the other coal-based plants in the city -- the Badarpur thermal power station and the Raj Ghat power station -- have been criticised for not just lagging behind in power production but also for not being environment-friendly.

With the aim of augmenting availability of electricity in Haryana, the state government is undertaking short, medium and long term measures to be self-reliant in power within the next few years. These include commissioning of its three major thermal power projects at Yamuna Nagar, Jhajjar and Hisar which will generate about 3,300 mw of electricity; contracting power from various projects outside the state for 4,000 mw and generating power through bidding process under case I of tariff policy to the tune of 2,000 mw.

The growth of six core infrastructure industries declined to 5.6 per cent in 2007-08 from 9.2 per cent in 2006-07. However, in March , the growth in these sectors stood at 9.6 per cent compared to 10.5 per cent in March 2007, according to the latest data released by the Government here on Thursday.

Most of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Haryana have not been able to function optimally due to power shortage. SMEs face almost six to eight hours of power failure everyday. SMEs with strong financials rely on captive power, run on diesel gensets, that costs about Rs 12.50 per unit. Power supplied by the the state electricity board costs Rs 4.50 per unit. The going is tough for those who cannot afford captive power. IS Paul, managing director of Panchkula based Drish Shoes Ltd says: "It is not only the issue of availability of power , but of quality as well."

As South Africa struggles with an ongoing power crisis, the state power utility Eskom has said electricity prices need to double in the next two years. In a submission to the National Electricity

Unable to cut down on its coal usage, it seems that the West is looking to burry its co2 emissions underground. The British government, for example, has become zealous about the carbon capture and