Wednesday, July 13 2005 14:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Dark clouds loom large over country's power situation with power plants in the grip of acute shortage of gas, rendering nearly one-third of India's gas-based capacity non-operational.

Alarmed over the issue, Power Ministry has sent a SOS to the Petroleum Ministry asking them to take stern action against companies, including Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Reliance Industries, which have failed to keep their promise of delivering gas after getting huge gas fields, taking advantage of Government's liberalised policies.

Power starved India lost a whopping 15 billion units of electricity last year causing major shortages in the country, top power ministry officials told PTI.

"The situation is critical. It is only going to get worse. The estimated loss especially from the gas-based projects is expected to go much beyond the last year's level of 15 billion units," the officials said.

On the huge gas recoveries announced by big companies like ONGC, Cairn Energy, GPCL and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the Power Ministry has favoured a 'strict monitoring mechanism' where these agencies have to deliver or face the consequences.

In an apparent criticism of Petroleum Ministry, the Power Ministry has suggested they (Petroleum Ministry) should prepare 'short-term' plans instead of using their entire energy on long term plans like India-Iran gas pipeline, Myanmar and Bangladesh as they were still 'very uncertain' projects.

"Long-term plans are good but lets not forget that in long term we are all dead also. So there is need for fulfilling our short term needs and avert crisis," the officials said.

Power Minister P M Sayeed has taken up the matter with Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and a coordination Committee comprising the respective secretaries has been set up.

In the wake of unavailability of gas, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) would have to make an interim arrangement for its two upcoming gas based plants at Kawas and Gandhar as Reliance does not appear to be in a position to supply gas on time.

Although the power ministry has prepared a contingency plan which includes importing Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and imported coal but there was no alternative to streamline gas supply from domestic sources especially India's flagship company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Reliance Industries Limited.