Chandigarh: Haryana has continuously progressed in the power sector since its inception in 1966, with an increase in the electricity availability; from 343 Megawatts (MW) in that period to 13106.58 MW today. Thus, Haryana has become self-sufficient in terms of power availability in the state in the last 8 years under the able leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal.
The target when the power demand reached 12768 MW during the peak hours in the months of May-June was also met. Even when the power crisis deepened in northern India, the availability of electricity in Haryana remained as expected. This became possible due to the power reforms carried out by the power corporations and the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC).
Electricity reached every village in the year 1970
When Haryana was separated from Punjab in 1966 as a separate state, at that time Haryana had an acute shortage of resources. It was a big challenge before the then governments to provide basic facilities like roads, electricity, water to the public. But in 1970, electricity was brought to every village. Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal himself believes that all the previous governments have contributed to the development of the state; but the work done in the last 8 years is overshadowing the work done in the last 48 years. In the field of power reforms, Haryana has taken a giant leap in these 8 years. The state has not only become self-sufficient in the field of power availability; but for the first time all the four power corporations are in a position of dividend.
Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission also playing an important role
After the Haryana Power Reform Act came into force in 1998 with the objective of protecting the interests of electricity consumers, rationalizing electricity tariffs and promoting environment friendly policies, the HERC was constituted on August 16, 1998. In place of the Haryana State Electricity Board, two corporations - Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) and Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) were formed.
In 1999, two separate corporations - Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), were formed from Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam; which will only do the work of electricity distribution. There are ten power circles under UHBVN including Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak and Jhajjar, with 32 division and 128 sub-divisions. Similarly, DHBVN has 11 circles, 30 divisions and 129 sub-divisions including Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind, Narnaul, Rewari, Bhiwani, Gurugram-1, Gurugram-2, Faridabad, Palwal and Sirsa.
New 900 MW power plant to be set up in Yamunanagar, power connections in agriculture sector crosses 6.64 lakh
Haryana Power Generation Corporation produces a total of 2582.40 MW power, out of which 710 MW power is produced from Panipat Thermal Plant, 1200 MW from Rajiv Gandhi Thermal Plant Khedar, 600 MW from Deenbandhu Chhoturam Thermal Plant, Yamunanagar, 62.4 MW hydro from Western Yamuna Canal and 10 MW of solar power from the Panipat Power Project. In 1966, where there were 20,190 tubewells used for agriculture in Haryana, it has now increased to over 6.64 lakh in 2022.
In 1966, there were only 9749 industrial area electricity connections in the state, which has now increased to over 1.18 lakh in 2022. Meanwhile, the per capita consumption of electricity was 48 units in 1966, which has now increased to about 1805 units. Today, the number of electricity consumers has increased to about 73.82 lakh. Keeping in view the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Chief Minister has given green signal to the proposal to set up another 900 MW power plant at Yamunanagar outside the NCR and soon its site selection and detailed project report (DPR) will be approved.
Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon Yojana is illuminating Haryana
Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal believes that electricity is supplied on the demand of the consumers, the way a customer buys goods from a shop. Similarly, the consumers have to pay for electricity also. In 2016, the Chief Minister had appealed to the people to pay the electricity bills which garnered public cooperation and after that ‘Mhara Gaon-Jagmag Gaon Yojana’ was started; under which now 5,681 villages, that is 84 percent villages of the state are being given 24-hour power supply in comparison to only 538 villages in October, 2014. Also, in October 2014, the recovery of electricity bills from rural areas was less than 50 percent, which has now increased to more than 90 percent. In this way, today Haryana has not only become self-sufficient in power generation, but is also at the top position in the country in power-generated industries and other basic facilities.