NEW DELHI, Jan 20: The Power Ministry has directed all state governments to ensure that power utilities are ready with crisis management plans for restoring normalcy in the “shortest possible time” in case of disruptions in generation, transmission or distribution of electricity.
The latest directive is part of holistic efforts to prevent instances like that of massive electricity grid failures in July last year that had impacted more than half of the country’s population.
During the recent Cabinet Secretariat meeting to monitor contingency plan of the Power Ministry, directions were given to issue “suitable advisories” to the state governments for preparing state-level crisis management plans by all power sector utilities, according to an official document.
The Crisis Management Plan (CMP) should also have details about “hierarchical set up at various levels” to ensure effective handling of crisis situations. Such plans would be applicable for both public and private sector entities.
On January 3, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) wrote to all state governments asking them to prepare crisis management plan with regard to power utilities of their respective states.
“It…Becomes extremely important for all utilities of Power sector to evolve CMP to formulate detailed guidelines to restore the generation, transmission and distribution of power in the affected areas in the shortest possible time,” it said in a communication.
CEA is the planning body for the power sector.
According to the CEA, the administrative response to crisis situations in the power sector has been by and large the responsibility of the concerned State/Union Territory governments.
“The CMP should outline preventive measures that need to be adopted to avoid any crisis situations, ways and means to tackle crisis situation if it occurs in spite of preventive measures, details of the hierarchical set up at various levels to effectively handle such situations is essential,” it said.
In its communication, CEA said that directions have to be given to all state and private power utilities to formulate their CMP.
“The regular updation and review of the CMP may be monitored periodically by state government,” it added. (PTI)
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