Power cuts, coal shortages, burning summer, Putin & our freebie politics

#PowerCrisis #CoalCrisis
As India faces a staggering number of power cuts, Shekhar Gupta digs deep into the coal shortage as Putin's war on Ukraine might not be the only reason. In Episode 991 of Cut The Clutter we look at politics, economics and data around the shortage of power supply and growing crisis of coal.
Brought to you by ‪@KiaInd‬
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Read Russia’s War Is Turbocharging the World’s Addiction to Coal here: www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...
Read India to face more power cuts due to coal shortage, soaring demand here: www.reuters.com/world/india/i...
Watch CTC India & China face energy crisis, power cuts & load shedding as coal prices rise & supply fall here: • India & China face ene...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join our channel to get access to perks. Click 'JOIN' or follow the link below:
/ @theprintindia
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with ThePrint
» Subscribe to ThePrint: theprint.in/subscribe/
» Subscribe to our KZbin Channel: bit.ly/3nCMpht
» Like us on Facebook: / theprintindia
» Tweet us on Twitter: / theprintindia
» Follow us on Instagram: / theprintindia
» Find us on LinkedIn : / theprint
» Subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram: t.me/ThePrintIndia
» Find us on Spotify: spoti.fi/2NMVlnB
» Find us on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3pEOta8

[@ThePrintIndia]

Early access, exclusive content, special privileges - Discover the great benefits of being a Member of ThePrint’s KZbin channel. Take a Paid Membership today. It costs just Rs 159/month. kzbin.info/door/uyRsHZILrU7ZDIAbGASHdAjoin

[@richardv9648]

If it is hottest march in 122 years that means the cause is not global warming. Because there were no cars 122 years ago.

[@nemosdiary8271]

make video on upcoming nuclear power plants of INDIA which can solve electricty problem

[@arupmishra2523]

I am very sorry to say the explanations are naive...if free electricity is the problem then why there were a coal shortage in 2018...

[@ramkumarkothamasu702]

@theprint : We respect your way of Journalism, request to kindly do necessary homework. It is CERC(Akin to TRAI in Telecom) which has issued directions of capping prices in Power Exchanges. Not CEA. Source: cercind.gov.in/2022/orders/4-SM-2022.pdf FYI : CERC: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission CEA: Central Electricity Authority Both have clear and distinct role in Power Sector as per Electricity Act 2003

[@prongs1216]

adding to SG's last line: We want free water, free electricity, free public transport, ... and free from taxes. And then by some magic, economy will boom, poverty will erode, HDI will rise.

[@karmanyakumar8295]

Exactly, that's why freebies party are winning

[@Einstein9433]

That party is giving freebies instead of siphoning money through corruption. Delhi govt is richer than ever before.

[@JEEVANMARATHE]

@@Einstein9433 look, corruption is bad. but you don't do corruption (i mean I'm just taking your word for it. I don't think there will be any party who is 100% corruption free... they will find anything... samosa, fridge, bridges, cricket etc to do it... only the limit is different in my opinion. but still let's assume) if you increase liquor tax and also not doing corruption so getting extra money that doesn't mean you should throw that money as freebies. (and punjab is already has very high debt still same party giving more units free in punjab so what is the reason there ? R they going to take delhi money and spend it in punjab ? 😅)

[@jansencristobal4275]

You must live in the forest..self sustaining...no tax no electricity bill,.no water bill...I love simple life

[@Einstein9433]

@@JEEVANMARATHE Punjab is under debt for the same reason the Delhi govt treasury was at its lowest when the Congress and the BJP were at the helm. What you call freebies is exactly what the first world govts in corruption free countries "give back" to the tax payers from the tax kitty. The idiots in our country cannot fathom this because this is real governance in a democracy which India never experienced before.

[@amitbhat25]

In Punjab, AAP has promised 300 units free if Bill is under 300 units pm. But power cuts for 12 hours has become new normal.

[@JEEVANMARATHE]

ohhh... they insured that the usage will be below 300 units and so everyone will not get electricity bill 😅😂🤣 in maharashtra state government tried to say that we will cut power for 8 hours other than main cities but because of strong opposition. still we are getting 24 hours continues supply (although it is not free here but it's ok. getting electricity continuously is more important)

[@itsraj244]

@@JEEVANMARATHE Haha 😂 it's miracle to find someone whom you know in KZbin's comment section 😂 i am hoping you are ok and still using hellotalk btw how's is Roshini 😂😂

[@JEEVANMARATHE]

@@itsraj244 ha ha ha... lolz. No i almost not using it... only checking tele. So i don't know about her 😅😅😂🙏

[@eternallyseeking2666]

Are you from Punjab? I am just curious about how is the electricity supply going on out there , in a little more detail... 👀 Since it's free upto 300 units per month.

[@gagansi406]

Punjab has had 12-15 hour cuts since the early 90s :) And you’re blaming someone who’s barely been in charge for a month? Stop watching republic and come back to reality

[@Roshmore7]

Loving these teeny tiny dad jokes in between… “Once coal, gas, and nuclear were traveling in first class…..”😂 great content as usual!

[@nimok3965]

Uncle Putin woke them up 🤣

[@shivavish1459]

Good episode. Can Supreme Court step in to remove all freebies and prevent abuse of taxpayer money? Reg the issue, we should leverage solar alternatives and also prevent cutting down trees in general

[@VishalKumar-xp6gz]

we r very poor in solar equipment manf...we import from china most of solar items

[@switchblade970]

Solar alternatives are still in primitive stage. And supreme court can't stop socialist programs neither put tax on riches. You seem stupid to talk on this issues read more

[@kaustubhshukla6462]

The problem isnt freebies, the problem is govt monopoly and half assed capitalism If you are gonna charge full tarrif just privatise electricity in states like UP , you will automatically see rise of energy alternatives specially natural gas. On the other hand if you wanna keep it govt supplied then better use the Delhi case where you ensure high efficiency of services ( nil power cut plus social benefit) The problem is the govt is using taxpayer money to give unlimited free electricity for agri and govt employees and not paying DISCOM their dues.

[@Myanmartiger921]

@@VishalKumar-xp6gz yes but ambani will change it

[@rext8949]

@@Myanmartiger921 Sure and he will become a trillionaire along with Adani who is not only importing humongous amounts of coal from Australia but also installing huge solar farms. Mera Bharat Mahaaan.

[@anupamsarkar2237]

Mr Gupta - well done with today’s presentation. Wonderful to see so many complicated nuances on power covered quickly in easy language. Excellent research by Print Team. Keep it up.

[@mutualrespect4411]

This is great episode to plug how Narendra Modi revived Gujarat Electricity Board while he was CM of Gujarat. It's a model to look up to...

[@gagansi406]

Lol, what??? You see what you want to see hahaha

[@rutvikchaudhary2166]

@@gagansi406 in gujarat 24/7 electricity available right now even we have solar panels on over roof

[@10thhokage5]

Forget modi look at newest state Telangana. We have 24/7 electricity even for farmers.

[@neil9381]

It's the attitude of Indians that put them in perpetual suffering from politicians.. Even the rich don't waste an opportunity for anything free.

[@albertafarmer8638]

Soon a loaf of bread will cost a days wages (see Revelation 6.6)... We are living in the E N D times, the 7year Tribulation with the Antichrist is right around the corner, that's GOD'S judgement upon all unbelievers! But there is hope - get saved and be rapture ready: accept JESUS CHRIST as your Lord and Savior today!!! Please study biblical end times prophecy; listen to Dr. Ron Rhodes on end times chronology.

[@peterdambier]

In Germany we do have more than enough coal. We used to export - but coal is dirty and we were thought by our teachers to stop it and coal is eating our villages. People are no longer willing to give up their villages for coal. At the same time we found out Tchernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear is bad and we stopped it as well. Windmills are good but not in my garden so we built them in the Noth Sea. No we need power lines but again nobody wants them to cross our garden. Now we are trapped. Oil and gas come via pipeline guess from where :) Apropos rich country, counting debt Germany is rank 27 India is only rank 61. India is richer than Germany we are only living on borrowed money until someone finds out the truth.

[@prst99]

Yeah Germany is full of contradictions and mismanagement of priorities. Reality is the only teacher that everyone listens to.

[@SofaKingShit]

The biggest contradictory argument seems to be coal being more ruinous for villages than big cities. Hashtag killer London smog.

[@user-cv1jb9xv2p]

Ohh ok

[@rudra20048]

What bought you here?

[@iki740]

@Ryan Robichaud don't use logic, simplicity is what the masses need ...... apparently

[@adithyachintalapati6851]

The socialist mindset that many people in India have is quite nauseating to be frank. many parties have nurtured that mindset even further with their freebie schemes. Most notable in recent times is the AAP, which is the most dangerous political party in India. Its high time someone takes extreme steps and puts an end to this madness. India should aim to gradually become a full fledged capitalist country over the next 5-10 years.

[@karunverma1]

Socialism is not about freebies my friend.

[@vinodmenon3591]

Sir..may your tribe increase! But that requires courage, look at the comments here, mostly we pay taxes, we don't get any thing in return, we are a poor country..blah...blah!

[@eternallyseeking2666]

I appreciate your thoughts of being a capitalist....

[@eternallyseeking2666]

@@karunverma1 It isn't... That's true. But the concept of freebies, roots from the ideology of populism and socialism. Governments should expand electricity connections.... Make drinking water reach every home. Make gas connections reach every home. But they should ask citizens to pay for it. Citizens expecting freebies from governments, should be considered a case of low self esteem and self respect. Things can be subsidised, upto some extend. But charging absolutely nothing, for services, is dangerous.

[@amols101]

Bjp is giving 5.11 lakh crores freebies throughout India, you think AAP which may be giving 5% of that is somehow more dangerous? Brilliant. Btw after Cabinet Secretaries warned modi about freebie culture, bjp doubled down and promised freebies in Himachal. I will not get into outright abuse of power and all kinds of illegal/anti-Constitutional things bjp is doing with its unlimited power, bulldozer politics which is destroying India's reputation globally, is just one of example. The ignorance of bjp supporters right from demonetization to botched up implementation of gst to the worst handling of corona to politics of hate, riots and bulldozer, not to mention record breaking inflation and unemployment is simply staggering.

[@amanshukla8758]

I really like these episodes on economics, political economy and public finance. Really appreciate your work 😎👍🏻

[@justice2375]

Zelensky is Putin's agent! Do you doubt it? Read this. 1. Zelensky: he lured tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons from the West, for which Ukraine will never pay. There probably won't be such a state anymore. 2. Zelensky: left the Russians the largest arsenal in Europe (Balaclay). 3. Zelensky: he freed the Russian market from foreign competitors, to which they were very grateful. Economists note an unusual phenomenon - the more sanctions, the more successful the Russian economy. 4. Zelensky: provoked a global economic crisis. Millions of ordinary people around the world will be impoverished every year until mass protests and revolutions take place. 5. Zelensky: forced the West to buy gas, oil, coal from Russians for rubles... the Russians didn't even dare to dream about it. 6. Zelensky: gave the Russians Donbass, Kherson, Kharkiv… 7. Zelensky: forced the rotten opposition to emigrate from Russia.. 8. Zelensky: he helped rally the Russian people around his Leader - he has never had such powerful support. Question: Could the war have been avoided? Answer: Yes. Back in 2014, Putin proposed to conclude the "Minsk Agreement" between the Kiev regime and the separatists. The guarantors were the Presidents of France, Germany and Russia. Ukraine agreed, but did not comply. Over 8 years of conflict, more than 14,000 people have died on the territory of Donbass. Question: Why didn't you know anything about it? Answer: The world media, controlled by the State Department, sided with Ukraine from the very beginning of the conflict. Even the Ukrainians themselves did not know the whole truth. A few more questions… Why do they hide irrefutable evidence from the world community that Ukraine shot down flight MH17, staged provocations in Bucha, Kramatorsk? Think about why the Russians don't bomb Ukrainian cities, bridges, turn off the Internet, TV, as NATO did in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan... P.S. In the information war, the one who tells the truth always loses. He is limited by the truth, and a liar can carry anything. Robert Sheckley. P.P.S. No one in the world doubts that the Russians will win this war and pacify the West. The Russian people hate Nazis and fascists on a genetic level!! The tragedy is that thousands of innocent people will die due to the fault of Ukrainian politicians and their patrons.

[@tanmayasahu5171]

Yesss Gupta ji is great at this

[@rajarshisom122]

I live in West Bengal. A lot of power generation capacity was added around 10-15 years ago in anticipation of new industries, which never arrived. Now we have power surplus

[@gaurang_maheshwari]

Yes, can't relate to all the power cut talks. CESC and WBSEDCL still supplying 24 hrs electricity here in WB.

[@dhruba0211]

@@gaurang_maheshwari I have lived across North India and now Bangalore... Having spent most of my life near Kolkata. Can't comment on WBSEB, but CESC has improved manifold. In my hometown, there is hardly a single power cut in months.

[@Ladisingh9]

Lol, surplus ? Go and check the chart of price . Your company work like a old MONEY LANDER like who store wheat and pray for drought. Go and see the price of electricity during peak hour. Truth is electricity department were created by public money for public . These institutions must run on the basis of no profit and no loss but these cheap freebies politics destroying us

[@eternallyseeking2666]

Yeah, I guess when the Communists took a stint at industrialising Bengal , around the late 00's.... Industrialisation never happened. But you guys got some good power generation capacity...

[@dipankarchatterjee9416]

There’s hardly any industry in WB so there’s no power cuts

[@praveenkamat6663]

Nitin Gadkari always supported toll on highway. He delivered them and was firm. Similarly power ministry has to be firm in their approach with state. Farmer subsidies and free electricity to be owned by state and paid on time. Power cost to be linked to market like Petroleum. Electricity is under GST. Go for cheaper option like Methanol, solar, wind and nuclear.

[@watso-007]

What about road tax why I'm supposed to pay road tax

[@karunverma1]

Collection of toll is the most inefficient and expensive way of collecting taxes There is a huge deadweight loss and lots of air pollution

[@vinodmenon3591]

@@watso-007 ..Don't drive on roads, drive on somebody's land, then you will understand why you should pay road tax

[@watso-007]

@@vinodmenon3591 ur not getting my point I paid tax in form of GST and again I have to pay road tax which is dependent on car size and engine size check ur info

[@vinodmenon3591]

@@watso-007 ...Road tax is collected by the Municipal corporation, hope you appreciate that they need money to build and maintain roads in their jurisdiction, where you also live and drive. The key to livable cities is that the local governments should have adequate resources instead of begging the state governments for money, as we all know most politicians are "farmers", they care a hoot about the life in cities.. Class 10th Civics class is over!

[@skwazeedali8448]

Completely agree shekhar sir we deserve good quality electricity if anyone is helping with subsidised solar panels we can help the grid back from our houses with rooftop solar panels. The ultimate goal to reduce coal permanently

[@rutvikchaudhary2166]

In gujarat government given subsidies for solar roof top scheme we have solar panels on over roof 😊 even we get 24/7 electricity but it's good to have solar panels

[@sumitsoral]

Hi SG, Another relevant and useful topic you have picked up in today's discussion. Among all pointers I loved the term lecturing other "bhookha-nanga" countries. This is though very correct that Europe is like non-vegetarian lecturing everybody to "save animals don't wear fur clothes"!!

[@Kikicarabala]

thank god we are back again on important issues. Shekhar obsession with pakistan is really worrisome especially to us millenials and genz.....

[@anshagrawal6289]

Do gen X even use KZbin?

[@Kikicarabala]

@@anshagrawal6289 sorry it should be genz ....my bad...

[@kapilbhardwaj4680]

Pakistan is 💩

[@Earlytorise89]

@@anshagrawal6289 X here. We do use a lot of KZbin; just do not comment as much as the Z.

[@ankurmahajangmail]

Indian consumers don't deserve good utility services. I have seen this with my own eyes. Here in J&K when Government tried to merge the Power Transmission wing of JKPDD with Power Grid, all hell broke loose, the workers went on strike, the consumers started blaming the UT administration, etc. This all happened in recent winters. The UT govt when tried to explain that the current JKPDD was incompetent and needed overhaul, there were no takers. So, the merger was called off. Now, people have hit the streets again because there are power cuts. But, when talking to common folk, they say it's better this way so that we don't have to pay genuine tarrif for the electricity consumption. People would be shocked to know that J&K tops in electricity losses at 60% that too when the maximum tarrif for domestic customers is around Rs.5.50 whereas the neighbouring Punjab pays around Rs.8/9. The incompetency of earlier state governments in harnessing the energy potential of J&K is on full display. Thank God for the removal of Article 370, we have Shahpur Kandi, Ujh Hydropower projects are going on at full speed. Energy Exports should be one of the biggest industry of J&K. And a side note on freebie politics, the day when AAP government in punjab announced 300 free Units of electricity, there started a huge commotion for membership of AAP in J&K.

[@tapemaj]

Well said Ankur Mahajan

[@CEBKashifAhmed]

I was reading with your comment with great interest until you did what you had to do.

[@sarangmishra6130]

@@CEBKashifAhmed why every Muslim is always against abrogation of article 370

[@switchblade970]

@@sarangmishra6130 because people of kashmir were not considered while taking that decision kashmir was under presidents rule when 370 was removed it's like dhoka to them

[@thiruvetti]

@@sarangmishra6130 Its just an agenda. They choose religion over development.

[@Dineshkumar-jf2hz]

SGji: What is the most bothering you? Me: Swarms and swarms of mosquitos when power goes off!!

[@narindersharma1496]

This is bitter realty of our country and all of us have to understand that the cheap vote politics has to go away . Free distribution always makes a nation cripple . I was especially sad to note the Kejriwalification of politics in Himachal Pradeah which happens to be my home state as well . Couple of weeks ago the present CM of HP has also promised free electricity as one of the agenda if BJP returns to power during next election due in Nov 2022 .. All parties have understood this shortcut to voters and this is dangerous trend which shall further take us back in progress as no money shall be left with Govt to invest on future projects .. Sad but true

[@mnbiar3760]

Artificial Coal shortage should benefit Adani only.. Long power cuts across a India shows Modi is incapable.

[@ThePrintIndia]

Thank You Narinder for watching and sharing your take on the same. Appreciate it. Keep watching and writing in. --Shekhar

[@maobond]

I like your energy and enthusiasm with which you narrate your news story! It’s very informative and educative..Thanks to you and your wonderful team!

[@RaghavendraLawaniya]

AAP has again started this freebies politics for their power gain, and supposedly kejriwal is a technocrat.

[@jaswindersinghnarula4379]

But still he is managing it with negligible power cuts, whereas I live in Faridabad next door to Delhi and dont get any Free electricity or water and still have to suffer with 6-8 hors of power cuts. Then who is better?

[@rajenpandya2806]

For the first time, I appreciate and agree with the conclusions of Shekhar Gupta as I am associated with power sector.

[@abirbasak1948]

If I am paying 30% direct tax and another 12% indirect tax, something needs to be provided by the government. In Bangalore we have power bills, water tanker charges (my locality no piped water supply), high cost kids education, exorbitant hospitalization charges, almost non existent roads. If everything comes under demand and supply, let's remove taxation and pay market price for everything.

[@jaswindersinghnarula4379]

Agree, if government was providing at least free good quality education and health services then people could afford high power costs. Problem is that we dont get ANYTHING for the Taxes we pay. And by WE I mean MIDDLE CLASS!

[@dynamitebsb4520]

@@jaswindersinghnarula4379 only 6% of Indians pay tax, rest are either not paying or not affordable

[@jaswindersinghnarula4379]

@@dynamitebsb4520 I guess you dont know the concept of Indirect Taxes which has overtaken Direct Taxes. So everyone is paying some form of tax and government should provide something for it. It is not FREE. All of us pay some tax!

[@sidharth97]

@@jaswindersinghnarula4379 Well I mean, the government does provide free education and healthcare, but quality is the keyword. More market based countries like the US actually have higher tax to GDP ratio(26% to India's ~17%) and hence the middle class there has quality govt run schools to send to.

[@jaswindersinghnarula4379]

@@sidharth97 Government provides education and healthcare just for name. How many of us that is the middle class send their children to government schools or go to a government hospital? We middle class get nothing for our taxes. So to say get rid of Free things is bull shit. If the government provides good education and healthcare for free then I don't think anyone would ask anything else for free. But we don't get that so people get attracted by free electricity.

[@mandarp9472]

Power Distribution companies in India have been making losses from many years due to free electricity, subsidised power to agricultural sector, non recovery of bills, high emploees cost, corruption, mismanagement. Power sector needs reforms but states have been opposing reforms.

[@Ladisingh9]

We here Chandigarh electricity department is only profit making institution in India and giving 24 hour electricity supply with lowest price in India but still government going to sell the it electricity department

[@mandarp9472]

@@Ladisingh9 Sir, Punjab govt has been giving the board the money to supply free or subsidised Electricity. Govt collects the money through taxes. Nothing comes free. Every thing is paid by tax payer at present or in future where govt takes loans to subsidise.

[@ghostofantarctica8216]

Companies don't provide free electricity. The govt and taxpayers pay for all the free electricity.

[@mandarp9472]

@@ghostofantarctica8216 No govt pay from it's own pockets. Ultimately everything is paid by taxpayers of the country at present or in future.

[@ghostofantarctica8216]

@@mandarp9472 That is exactly whati said. And I waould rather my tax money go toward infrastructure.

[@falkjanen5050]

European here. That's one of the most the fun things about being a wealthy society. You can have all the amenities and still morally pressure others. You should try it. 😉

[@Go-ah-oold]

In india the same thing is done. On a smaller scale, but, still, it is done.

[@varun2250]

@@Go-ah-oold Any examples please.

[@kokoinmars]

@@Go-ah-oold Yeah sure shitholer.

[@28cosmos]

Try to be a wealthy society you mean? By becoming a colonial power? Hmm, worth a thought.

[@falkjanen5050]

@@28cosmos You seem to overestimate (for understandable reasons) how much money can be made by plundering other countries. Especially if you factor in the cost of transport, occupation and defense against other colonial powers. But let me tell you from experience that trade, peace, innovation, social progress and cooperation with your neighbors are actually way more profitable.

[@petterbirgersson4489]

"Europe is the most spoiled child of the climate debate". This statement is true.

[@ulf5738]

Explain and give proper context or zip your mouth.

[@petterbirgersson4489]

@@ulf5738 We both knew about and had the ability to counteract climate change and resource scarcity decades ago but we did next to nothing to prevent it. Instead we built (or rather bought) heavier cars (SUV:s), renovated our kitchens and bathrooms every odd year or so, increased our flight travel many folds and increased our overall consumption, as if there was no tomorrow. All this despite the knowledge (check for instance the documents from the Rio environmental summit 1992 as a reference).

[@chaitanyakamdar7094]

CTC should be done on what's going on in Jharkhand politics lately.

[@ThePrintIndia]

I will check out. Truth to tell, haven’t followed it closely for some time…thanks for writing in…Shekhar

[@ChadPANDA...]

@@ThePrintIndia right wingers are waiting for you to cover so that they can show their Islamophobia in comment section.

[@kevindsz]

Govt should invest more into Thorium Nuclear Plants

[@DebjyotiGorai]

Need more nuclear, wind, solar, hydro and tidal power. Need to do R&D in modular and small nuclear power plants.

[@varunkhatri3199]

Great episode! And this exactly is why I'm subscribed to this channel. We need to take individual responsibility as a society, government isn't and shouldn't provide everything to us.

[@offred6013]

U shouldnt pay direct or indirect tax then.

[@Redumbrellayellow]

@offred 😂😂😂😂

[@Mark-go7qm]

@@offred6013 these ANDBHAKT have been indoctrinated so badly. They don't even know what is the purpose of govt. Tomi they will say people should protect themselves they should not expect police for everything

[@varunkhatri3199]

@@offred6013 as long as the tax rates are reasonable and the state provides with basic amenities, I don't mind paying.

[@offred6013]

@@varunkhatri3199 do u think paying taxes is optional ? I pity u.

[@subramanianavv1989]

Freedom fighters, great analogy. People should remember that there is nothing free. Your future generations will pay of not you.

[@sadanandgote5544]

You are absolutely right...

[@Ali_kazi_mumbai]

My God what a powerful and my blowing episode and the end joke about freedom fighters was heart piercing eye opener episode by the great shekhar gupta

[@manasijkar3647]

Very complicated and interrelated topics covered with ease! Loved the closing comment "all freedom fighters, we want free power"

[@abhinavkumar8182]

Everytime time you simplify all the complex jargons related to international issues. I was shaken when you explain the chain of bankruptcy in energy sector. Keep it up sir & your team. ✌️

[@acesovernines]

This episode really helped cut the clutter on this subject at least as far as I am concerned.. thank you Shekhar-ji

[@jackshrimp]

Thanks a million, Shekar, your subjects and analysis is spot on . Way above all other media put together, India Today is full of Ukraine war, NDTV is all abt The big Fight etc,

[@rajx7120]

Stopping the growing of rice and sugarcane, will also solve a lot of problems. Both water and electricity will be saved.

[@akshatprakash871]

Especially in dry areas like western up (sugarcane) and Punjab (rice).

[@rajx7120]

@@akshatprakash871 Western UP is fine because they have perennial rivers. Maharashtra's Vidarbha area is facing drought.

[@ThePrintIndia]

Thank You Raju for watching and writing in your take. Pls stay tuned for more. - Shekhar

[@dineshpratapupadhyay6583]

How can you stop the cultivation of rice? It's a staple crop. More than half of India consumes rice. Sugar is needed too.

[@rajx7120]

@@ThePrintIndia Wow! Thank you. Just echoing what I learnt from this channel.

[@kushalpatel8965]

This is where one of the few (I will say), jobs Modi did in GJ. Privatization of electricity. Being in Bangalore, where power cuts are rampent though rich city tag, one need to realize good things must come at price and people should pay and appreciate it.

[@rajx7120]

When electricity is costly, people use less. When electricity is free, they get less. But in former case, people have control over the situation, wastage is less and companies don't do bankrupt.

[@kushalpatel8965]

Even though it's private company (Torrent), electricity is cheaper than Bescom in Ahmedabad. Total power cut in Ahmedabad for an entire year (throughout my life) that is 2hr in *total*. Which happens to be 1 day power cut in Bangalore. Neither it is costly, nor do people here in Ahm control well. It's a an accountability of private company which manages electricity well for 70lac people of the city.

[@eternallyseeking2666]

Good things need to be appreciated.... And also, Gujarat has some of the best solar power generation infrastructure... I just came to know, recently. That too, was initiated by him, I guess...

[@rahulpatekar]

Thanks for the great analysis

[@kartikvenkat5391]

Completely agree on the freebies part. We need to stop demanding all these freebies from our leaders and focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. Until then nothing will change, aisa hi hota hai aisa hi hota rahega.

[@trijit96]

The problem is population

[@paranturangacharan]

Have the DISCOMs in Delhi, the only state giving massive free electricity, gone bankrupt and not being able to pay to the generating companies ? No. This is the usual agenda driven CTC from SG. He cleverly didn't elaborate why Central Authority fixed the cap so high.

[@siddharthgoyal4008]

@@paranturangacharan the cap is st high because input costs are so high. If Central board say sets cap at 5 and production cost is 5 or more most power plants will shut down. Power plants and their operators also need to make money or else why will they do it ?

[@garimaagrahari9163]

I disagree, the underlying problem in India is 0.6% people paying taxes and not getting any decent level of public services!

[@sensei3265]

Don't be naive. Every single consumers contribute taxes.

[@sarathtnr1458]

Thanks for holding mirror not only to power but people too!

[@gperiaswami3971]

Media should play an active role in educating public just as you do.

[@user-cv1jb9xv2p]

Nice video. Thank you for this video. I highly respect your work.

[@smartbuys3118]

We need to vote out governments who promise us freebies, we need to be "aatma nirbhar or self reliant" as a citizen first only then can we expect our country to be self reliant, the money which we pay as taxes must go in infrastructure development, which would indirectly increase our income for long term , rather than wasting it on direct freebies, which would end us up like Sri Lanka

[@tapemaj]

AAP - Kejriwal 🙄

[@apurvabhide2860]

@@tapemaj #AyegatoModihi

[@PK-tt5kk]

hmm self reliance in Energy is great but on pretty much everything else, its a pipe dream. No country can produce everything for itself. We need to lower tariffs on everything & let our manufactures integrate with global supply chains or let them compete. Common man should not bear the brunt of inefficiencies of big manufacturing companies.

[@VishalKumar-xp6gz]

BJP govt distributes more freebies than previous govt..go n look into this year economic survey..freebies in agri,textile,pharma,MSMEs etc

[@Aryan-ye4mp]

Aapki baate to achi hai but practical nahi hai.. Until &unless, poverty is resolved, it is not possible

[@SuyashSharma8]

I'm thinking of that and u have now covered it. Wow

[@jatingupte7690]

Thanks!

[@architlee1]

Always a pleasure listening to CTC episodes...Shekhar ji, don't you think in some instances, people who are in the media or termed as 'intellectuals' have contributed to this problem of 'free'? Not attacking any party in particular here but when say a Delhi Govt announces free electricity it gets celebrated by such people. I have never seen anyone asking tough questions where they ask 'How will you get the money to subsidize the whole thing'

[@abhinavmathur5648]

As a 20 year old intern at Reliance Energy Management Institute in 2009, I was flabbergasted by the mismatch of demand and supply trends then. The electricity act was just edited and we all thought that this would actually improve the mess that the old Soviet style of power systems but boy was I wrong. Mr Shekhar Gupta rightly puts the ball in "our" court, the citizens. We can continue to keep blaming the unholy nexus of "Neta-Babu", but the mess is due to a trinity "Neta-Babu-Deshvaasi", as long as Indian citizens continue to be clueless about economics and logically challenged, our problems will keep compounding.

[@anuragchakraborty8766]

Do you really expect Indian citizens to be "economics and logically" sound when the majority of our country remains starving, malnourished & poverty-stricken? When was the last time you checked the Global Hunger Index or do you believe that's fake as well?

[@ThePrintIndia]

Abhinav first thx for watching and appreciate you writing in your take. Look forward to reading more from you. - Shekhar

[@abhinavmathur5648]

@@anuragchakraborty8766 - I have worked in the development sector, I believe the rankings more than most people would. However I am calling the middle classes now, we are in a near crisis and our middle class is still voting for freebies and non developmental issues.

[@anuragchakraborty8766]

@@abhinavmathur5648 If you were starving and unemployed, wouldn't you pledge your vote to someone that promised you food and work? Put yourself in their shoes for a second. If you want "freebie politics" to end, propose a model that ends hunger and poverty first....otherwise this is a never ending cycle.

[@abhinavmathur5648]

@@anuragchakraborty8766 sirji read my response. I’m again talking about the middle class voting for freebies and not knowing economics. They have all the means to know but have gone out and ended up voting for freebies or non relevant issues like Air strikes etc The change has to happen with the middle class only getting its act right and then the poor sections will get uplifted by trickle down effect. And hopefully then things get better

[@sanjaydongre]

thanks shekhar for elaboration & efforts .

[@poras1513]

Exceptional Video...! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@vineeth489]

To reverse the climate change, Soil is foremost thing to be handled. #SAVESOIL LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

[@tejamysore3699]

Another gem from SG! Sir, would love to hear you debate your good friend Yogendra Yadav on getting consumers to pay market price for electricity (or anything for that matter). Saw his recent article on the thePrint. Just the headlin -'need for right to work' gave me palpitations. This is where our 'intellectuals' are... 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@sumarianprince]

Yogendra Yadav is a failed leftist idiot.

[@ThePrintIndia]

Thank You Teja! Glad you liked watching the episode. Pls stay tuned for more and keep writing in. Cheers! -Shekhar

[@orunabho]

We are a country of free'dom fighters...the best one till date from SG. Awesome.

[@nksharma2729]

Very informative. Congratulations Shekhar Gupta ji and his team

[@assasindxd3193]

Nepal does not have power cuts. Atleast not till now. Advantages of having surplus power.

[@_kartik_chauhan]

Blessing of Himalayas

[@anujsethi7845]

Our government have mismanage the energy. Both central and state government are clueless.

[@user-gy4gk5pr1g]

Yeah, no wonder idiot. Surplus itself means having more than needed.

[@himanshudhek2569]

Even nepal currently is asking india for electricity supply at night as the river flow is low in summer months till monsoon hits

[@pokinewspropaganda977]

Low population

[@siddhantk4985]

Also we should point out about broken agriculture system which is contributing to global warming.. Most of the Indian agriculture is using ground water for agriculture which is decreasing day by day ....

[@eternallyseeking2666]

I agree.... Punjab,is moving towards severe droughts and desertification, in the next 10-20 years... Thanks to the over-irrigation facilities, subsidised by the Punjab government, over the years now. Punjab was never meant for growing rice and eucalyptus, which they are doing, as they are having excess water supplies, today. It may sound all nice and beautiful now. But it is going to come back and bite them, severely, later.

[@siddhantk4985]

@@eternallyseeking2666 also Marathwada in Maharashtra.. they are growing sugarcane in one of the most drought prone areas using ground water

[@yc_8088]

Well explained...thanks

[@sharanbansal1897]

Fantastic episode 👍🏼 great analysis Shekhar ji

[@arstocks1234]

While I see the logic in all the explanation SG gave on buying electricity at market price and discouraging the govts of the day to give freebies, the fact of the matter is India has not been able to fulfill it's energy needs even after having so many nuclear and solar and other alternative power deals. And with his logic he is also behaving like the Europeans but at an individual level. Not that people don't want to buy at market price, but has their income risen proportionately to afford that kind of spending for electricity? And what about all the excesses that the govt of the day keeps on building by charging at exaggerated levels on petrol and Diesel and other fuels, what happens to that money. So it is budgeting that the govts do by charging extra on one commodity and subsidizing the other, and thats how policies and politics has to be when we don't have clear solutions and be self dependent on energy creation and energy management.

[@IamSuperman154]

Great episode. I got to know so many things that are not available or not explained properly in other mainstream media. Other newspapers should also inform people about this reality somehow before it becomes too late like Sri Lanka. Btw now I am beginning to see true face of AAP Kejriwal and reality of his freebies. This is why modi is better as he try to reform various corrupted sectors

[@NithinNitwiter]

First of all, stop labelling basic amenities that are given at subsidized rates as "freebies". Do you have any idea on the amount of taxes that the Indian public pays to centre, states, and local bodies? Even the poorest of the poor are paying heavy taxes in the form of indirect taxes. Indian public in general lacks economic power; they are generally unable to meet the various demands of diet, healthcare, education, housing, security, etc. and thus it is the duty of govts to provide for them. nothing that the govts provide is free; the govts in India are collecting record levels of tax revenue and if you think that they're utilising that revenue properly for matters that are not related to the "freebies" that you like to blame for every economic woe, then think again. if the govts are unable to sort out their finances while extending economic support to the Indian masses then they are not worthy to govern.

[@NithinNitwiter]

As for your Modi reforms, i hope you know that under IBC (insolvency and bankruptcy code), the banks have had to write off ~67% of 7,54,000,00,00,000 rupees, and all of this in only 6 years. Any idea which class is getting the benefit of not having to pay back these loans? Any idea of how much this amount compares to the money spent on "freebies"? it's very easy to blame the poor and economically weak sections for everything, isn't it? Think critically from now on.

[@vinodmenon3591]

@@NithinNitwiter ..Are you class 5 dropout? Do you know the meaning of write off?😆

[@vinodmenon3591]

@@NithinNitwiter ...Oui Maa!! Indian public pays taxes ??What is the tax to GDP ratio of India compared to others?

[@NithinNitwiter]

@@vinodmenon3591 yes, I'm sorry for incorrectly writing "write off". What I actually meant was "haircut", which is much worse than what a write off is.

[@dmark6699]

Excellent report as usual.

[@anuradham8435]

Informative and entertaining! Super episode..🙏

[@kbasu2142]

Freebies are not helping anyone anymore. Fiscal deficit is high so is inflation. We will go the Srilanka way if the our leaders do not understand it. Well covered SG.

[@venomfu007]

Exactly, Delhi is the only state with surplus revenue. Other States must learn from it.

[@hmmmm6685]

@@venomfu007 Delhi is industrial capital.other can't be industrial capital. It's like saying Denmark is rich.we should learn from it. More developed the state,more money for social welfare. You can reduce price but free is always bad. It also depromote rooftop solar.which could lift a lot of pressure on grids.

[@minhaj23227]

@@venomfu007 🤣🤣....so dumb, it's the fucking capital and one person didn't make it rich ...it always was rich as compared to other states bcz it is meant to be as it is the capital

[@arindamsardar3897]

@@venomfu007 gendu delhi india ka capital hai tho pura india se uska compare mat kar

[@venkatabhiram1688]

This should be an eye opener for "educated people" in Delhi who vote for the likes of AAP

[@MinhajAhmedAnsari]

Excellent OTC ... Touching all our pain points quite deftly, reality we all know but hate to confront.

[@kusumfernandes4057]

Really loved the explanation 🙏

[@devtwr]

Remember when you are getting something for free, you are the product. Nothing is free ever, either you pay via conventional method or by your blood n sweat.

[@venkataramayya4266]

There is so much sunshine and thorium in India, that it is unconscionable to have power shortages!!!

[@subirpaul6014]

Thanks

[@louisgiokas2206]

Germany has stopped buying coal from Russia. This may also apply to the whole EU. There is lots of coal available. The US has massive amounts, but because of the environmentalists there are few or no exports.

[@herrgolf]

“Because of environmentalists” sounds almost disdainful. The mining companies here remove entire mountaintops-they remove all the trees and forest on top of the coal, entirely denuding the landscape. It’s deforestation and worse, pollutes much of the water. I hope to God Russia doesn’t become an excuse to destroy our environment and country here in the US.

[@prst99]

@@herrgolf that’s why nuclear power is so essential. We need to remove mining of coal while providing energy.

[@louisgiokas2206]

@@mikeharrison6638 Looking forward to it.

[@iki740]

SG should have been more specific with states. Especially when he singles out someone. If delhi govt is giving cheap power.... what's the credit they owe to distributors compared to other states? That's where the nuisance comes out.

[@paruldhingra6657]

Freebies are most dangerous thing for a society

[@chetanyanagpal6812]

Can’t agree more with you!! Just love this type of content from you. P.S: though i love other videos of you as well😅

[@gauravkr9076]

Nowadays with social media activists it has become really hard to bring any reform. Whenever government try to change anything someone from somewhere start crying on social media and bring people to streets. And going to sc and hc has become fashion nowadays for so called social workers

[@Maratha1990]

Need to implement Electricity amendment bill 2021 in india at least from 2025 .

[@pratapdalabehera9755]

I love your scathing truths. Salute to this constructive and positive journalism.

[@narayananm3058]

Valuable informations and comment s

[@Prayukth]

SG gets nostalgic when he talks about fosill fuels..especially coal..this is because he and his camera person were the first ones to report on the lack of decomposition of plant detritus in the early carboniferos had led the formation of peat...he had spoken about this in the 267765467854228th episode of cut the clutter...he had then predicted that this material would one day cause wars and planet-wide destruction...

[@specnaz1395]

You are both funny and knowledgeable . That's a good combo saw your comments yesterday also

[@prajwalshetty9809]

How is your pet dino?

[@ani_ds12]

Paying a realistic price for electricity should start with the prime minister, president, minister, chief ministers and other MLA's. On one hand you have they consuming thousands of units each month just to keep their multi room mansions cool and if they were to be paying from their own pocket, I am sure, there will be a lot of power saved

[@rajx7120]

Hardly 5000 MPs and MLAs are there in India. You won't save a lot. But yeah, they should pay as a matter of principle.

[@ani_ds12]

@@rajx7120 on average even if you consider a few thousand units of electricity consumed each month for example, a Google search will give you some old info on the Rashtrapati bhavan electricity bill that was approx 6 cr in 2007, could be the same or more depending on the rates. So, on average the MLAs' and MPs' residences could be consuming a few lakhs of electricity each month. As the Modi govt had advertised, it will be common man's govt, time to execute that promise

[@rajx7120]

@@ani_ds12 But state govt dues are in lakhs of crores. MP/MLA would be using only a few thousand crores. Orders of magnitude is different.

[@91anxious]

Well said

[@tjkoovalloor]

Good presentation. Congratulations! Power Struggle for Energy and Money is the reason of War in the Ukranian peninsula.

[@allenpradhan2063]

Here I thought 2021 was the worst year yet 😂

[@Kathakathan11]

It’s going to intensify with time

[@dumolollen7676]

A stage would come where freebies especially electricity would be over n people would be charged high n besides 🤣🤣 i think it's my home state of Arunachal Pradesh where there is absolute absence of free electricity in election manifesto by the political parties during election time

[@suneetluthra3967]

One of the best CTC episodes. Well done SG

[@hegoukipgen5612]

Very informative and insightful.

[@a.k9984]

Chalo after watching this episodes, makes me little relief that Modi's step is not responsible for this power shortage.

[@anuragchakraborty8766]

How are you enjoying your uninterrupted vIkAs since 2014?

[@gauravguleria7190]

Governments instead of giving free electricity should supply electricity at market price, and then make a direct cash transfer to households for the amount which it promised or promises to be free. This will put money in the hands of the poor people and discourage wastage of free electricity. That way people can be encouraged to make efficient use of electricity with a view of increasing disposable income.

[@karnatinagesh]

Hahha. We are paying more than other countries. I am paying more than what I was paying in US. Here in India till date I did not even use AC

[@vinodmenon3591]

Perfectly summed, whatever that is given cheap is wasted, high prices will drive efficient utilization!

[@rajx7120]

Correct. Direct cash transfer is better.

[@nikhilcng8536]

hatsoff sir, what a analysis.

[@mobjectivems7652]

Here in Northeast our average temps are around 28 degree Celsius….I live in Guwahati and todays temp was around 32 degree Celsius max.

[@omkarjagdale1312]

Suggestion for next episode Semiconductor Manufacturing in India - dream or reality ?

[@finfet9828]

Dream. Only some govt companies can try on limited scale but foreign companies won't. Better focus on designing. But iguess assembly and testing can be done.We can try on other parts like battery, communication module,display etc.

[@aniseedus]

You should check out the content by another channel called Asianometry if you're interested in this topic

[@bernadmanny]

Well they would be a major new source of energy demand

[@vinaykumar-jv1ku]

according to my calculations, in a decade from now, about half of homes in india will use desert cooler, thus electricity demand will be high, we must make a report and estimate what energy need graph will be with time and accordingly work on it...

[@karunverma1]

Can you share which calculations you are talking about??

[@rext8949]

@@karunverma1 Very complicated and esoteric. Let us start with the graph instead and maybe in a decade we will understand.

[@kartikbansal3107]

Hi Sir, I am a big fan of yours. I get to learn new things every time I see your videos, your tweets. Thank you. I have one doubt/request I don't understand how energy/electricity market works in India. Currently I have studied somewhere that it is not coal problem it is a payment problem where some department owe another some money and so on. Please make a informative video on that. Thanks

[@saranathantg]

Good presentation of the present Power problem. Thanks.

[@pradeepsudarshan6117]

Another reason for power distribution companies going bankrupt is power theft. In India the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses are above 20% while which is more than twice the world average.

[@12345614489]

Please donot fall into the politics of AAP which promises everything free.

[@khawarabbas100]

It feel good to hav discussion on our joint issues.

[@brijeshpanwar5977]

Very thoughtful and informative session. That's why I have subscribed to The Print. I love it.

[@jaydeepgadhavi5465]

Just a bit of disagreement with the conclusion. To take on someone who is looking for cheap or free power is just like Europe taking on India for hampering the fight against coal. Cheaper energy is essential to support economy

[@ankitlamba4253]

You can provide cheap power, but providing 300 units of free power is ridiculous and lunatic. Instead state must provide upto average units of power free or cheap, for ex an urban household of 5 members uses 120-150 units of power per month. Provide 130 units of cheap power so that they understand value to save power.

[@riteshgupta4002]

but these cheap power isnt used for productive sector. they are giving cheap power to residential buyers and compensating it with high price to commercial and industrial buyers actually harming the economy for vote bank politics.

[@jaydeepgadhavi5465]

All of you dignitaries are definitely right. There is a clear mismatch between power tariffs in productive sectors and remote customers. However this dire situation is exaggerated by thefts and other T&D losses rather than state policies

[@0609Bhuwan]

Nothing can be free / cheap below cost .... Its just another way of redistribution of wealth from rich to the poor... In the end the tax paying sector will recover this cost in prices of goods from the same people who got "free power" ... Get free Power but pay 18% GST on the gadget you use

[@minhaj23227]

@@jaydeepgadhavi5465 theft and losses are due to the very fact that prices are extremely low to function properly.....I am not targeting any govt , but some things are just wrong plan and simple

[@venomfu007]

Disappointed in the coverage of political economy around Electricity in India. Will suggest SG to read "CRISIL report on Electricity to Government of India" and how it states the Delhi model of electricity purchase and distribution being the best in India. India is world's 3rd highest electricity producer and produces surplus electricity at the cheapest rates in the world(PPP basis). But due to government corruption we pay one of the highest rates in the world(again PPP basis) One of biggest scams being some states having more than 18 Consumers(Normal Consumer, Industry, Metros and 15 others) & 72 Slabs to distribute and charge electricity

[@ghettomaster1000]

Even after paying highest price we have power cuts in Pune maharashtra.

[@charliethecoolhenz]

Come here in Punjab man. Stop this lecture. Work from home has become working from hell here.

[@iamrenew8410]

Sorry to say this , but the Delhi model is a lot like the European model that SG speaks of. Delhi demands the most dependable power and subsidises it for the largest share of its population, whole not wanting coal plants nearby. Delhi has missed it's renewable targets by the widest margin on something as basic as rooftop solar power, and demands to be prioritised for green energy over others. If every state had the Delhi model of power, we would be paying a lot more for power , when we can get it .

[@smartbuys3118]

Freebies hurt the taxpayers, they pay for the power which are supplied by government for free, and majority of them have a standard of living, which does not allow them to fall in category to enjoy freebies. Plz understand why Sri Lanka got bankrupt, freebies was one of the major cause, they improve standard of living for short term, but in the end understand, nothing is free, someone has to pay, and our future generations cannot be that someone facing China with a horrible Indian economy

[@venomfu007]

​@@iamrenew8410 Absolutely disagree. Just read the CRISIL report to GOI(it's available over google). We are an electricity surplus country. It is just the government's corruption in distribution and charging of electricity that causes this artificial shortage and high prices.