Power shortage hits growth in South Asia

As South Asia enjoys unprecedented economic growth, soaring summer temperatures have highlighted a chronic shortage of electricity that is crippling enterprise and leaving millions to suffer without any hope of respite, reports AFP.

India, the world's second fastest growing major economy after China, which has enjoyed five per cent annual growth since the early 1990s, governments are plagued by the problem of growing demand for power combined with inadequate supply.

Experts say South Asian nations are failing to add the capacity needed to keep up with economic growth, pointing out that China adds more than 28,000 megawatts of capacity on average annually compared to only 4,500 megawatts in India.

India has been hailed for its rapid development but critics say it has no viable strategy to tackle its power problems.
In parts of the Indian capital Delhi residents are left to swelter for up to ten hours at a stretch.

In some rural areas there is electricity for only two hours a day or none at all.
Less than 50 per cent of households nationwide have access to electricity compared with 97 per cent in China.

Lack of capacity combined with soaring demand also afflicts Karachi, Pakistan's biggest industrial city, where frequent cuts hamper industrial production. "Industry is suffering billions of dollars losses due to poor electricity services," said MA Jabbar, vice- president of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI).

Sri Lanka is struggling to cope with an eight to 10 per cent annual increase in demand forcing the country to turn to expensive thermal power.

Nearly a fifth of the country is still without electricity. Demand is increasing at a similar rate in Nepal.

Source: The Financial ExpressMore

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