Power for Rural Areas

The question of power has recently attracted attention of politicians, administrators, scientists and engineers besides industrialists and businessmen. In 1940 the Sub-committee "Power and Fuel" under the National Planning Committee found out, mostly by guess, that the present power production in India in all stations, thermal and hydro-electric, amounts to 1-million K.W. and the energy index percapita is 8. K.W.H. per head per year. This is abnormally low in comparison with other:countries, U. S. A. having 1600, Canada 2500, U. K. 900, Russia 300, Japan 376. The meagre national income of Rs. 65/- per year of an average Indian is attributed to this low energy index. This fact is later corroborated by Mr. H. M. Mathews, C. I. E., M. I. E. E., Chairman, Central Power Board, Government of India, in his paper, read before the Central India sent on February 1945 and published in the Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India) Vol. 26. No. 1. Sept., 1945. From Table I, II & III It is to be seen that the total installed capacity in whole India is to be 1,250.844. K.W. and the energy consumed per capita is 9.2. K.W.H. The slight increase in power consumed is most likely due to the enhanced war activities in India. The article 'Power Development in India' by Mr. B. K. R. Prasad, Hydro-Engineer, Bombay, published in Science and Culture Vol. XI. No. 12, June, 1946 and the paper of Mr. V. R. Vaidya, published in the Journal of the Institution of Engineers in December 1943, also confirm the above two important finding of the N. P. C. "Power & Fuel". They contain also important suggestions for the Power Development in India.