A few states in northern India together conspired to create the biggest grid collapse in the world resulting in the entire North and north-eastern part of country going without electricity for around 48 hours.For someone like me sitting under the comforts of an integrated steel plant with self sufficient power it took some time to realize the the gravity of situation.But as the picture became clear with passage of time, I started imagining about the people stranded in trains(in moist areas ..perhaps), hospitals running out of generators,metro trains,half of the country's households, banking services and most importantly about the tax paying honest citizen on his way home who has to face such an ordeal.For kids in the age group of 5-10 year this was an ideal time to play hide n seek (such a game did exist in my time), and an unexpected break from studies .
To understand how they managed to screw up everything let us first know how a grid works.Just imagine a city with several lakes,if somehow we connect all these lakes whenever any lake has excess water it can be passed on to the other water deficient lake .In this way the water level can be maintained in all such lakes.This same system when applied to sharing of electricity is called 'grid'.But when we talk of sharing of electricity it's not that simple...the state grid's have to be precise in stating their requirements because both the overdrawing and under drawing of electricity leads to fluctuations in frequency which if persists over a period of time can lead to grid collapse.The states over indulgence in POWER PLAY finally resulted in 48 hour blackout.
To understand how they managed to screw up everything let us first know how a grid works.Just imagine a city with several lakes,if somehow we connect all these lakes whenever any lake has excess water it can be passed on to the other water deficient lake .In this way the water level can be maintained in all such lakes.This same system when applied to sharing of electricity is called 'grid'.But when we talk of sharing of electricity it's not that simple...the state grid's have to be precise in stating their requirements because both the overdrawing and under drawing of electricity leads to fluctuations in frequency which if persists over a period of time can lead to grid collapse.The states over indulgence in POWER PLAY finally resulted in 48 hour blackout.
Now if u r still continuing to read this blog it means that I have succeeded in arising DESHBHAKT inside you or that you are reading this on my insistence (sorry for that :-) ).....anyways Ministry of Power has set up a 3 member committee to probe this matter.By the time report comes this incident must have been forgotten by the Janta.Now moving away from the problems lets now celebrate the good news being brought about by Indian sports persons at this London Olympics......4 medals so far (as on Aug 7) and 3 more expected if Wrestling and boxing team performs well.
There was a scene in the film PAAN SINGH TOMAR...wherein Irfan Khan sums up the Indian sports reality in one dialougue..."4 ande(eggs) aur 2 Kele(banana) hath me pakdake bolte ho medal lao".We as a nation don't attach much value to once in 4 year Olympics and if a medal comes our way welcome out on the streets to celebrate the success and then we forget.Among the winners a certain Mary kom's story struck me the most.
She hails from manipur hub of moist insurgency.In 2011 there was a 4 month curfew in her home state.For weeks LPG cylinder;s, food ration and other such essential items were not accessible because all national highways were blocked by moists.Being a sports champ or World champion hardly made any difference she cooked food for her family using wood and charcoal.It was only 2 years ago that she state goverment provided her with a flat where there is 24 hr electricity (funny though...the average for remaining manipur state is 4 hours ).Such 'priveleges' granted are too little and too late.
