The State Government has decided to enhance its thermal power generation capacity to avoid the power crisis in the lean period faced by the State almost every year. Dispur feels that more thermal power is required for maintaining the "uniformity in power supply' in the State throughout the year. This was revealed by Power Minister Prodyut Bordoloi, while speaking with The Sentinel today. He said, while the ideal ratio of hydro and thermal power stands at 40:60 respectively to maintain an uniform power supply, in Asom the ratio in this regard is around 20:80, which is far from the ideal standard. Over dependence of the State on hydro power causes recurring power shortage in the "lean period' from October to March every year. Shortage of rainfall prompted the hydel power generation units in this region to reduce their production in the lean season. Bordoloi said, a target for generating additional 2000 MW of thermal power by 2013 has been envisaged by the Government to meet the ever increasing energy demand of Asom. At least seven coal and gas based projects are in the pipeline for commissioning or augmentation of generation capacity by next five years, he added. The projects are: 750 MW Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station (BTPS), proposed 250 MW Badarpur coal based project, 480 MW Borguli coal based project near Margherita, 200 MW Amguri project, setting up of a 38 MW additional unit at Lakowa, 150 MW Namrup replacement project and reviving of the Chandrapur thermal project, generating capacity of which is to be increased up to 100 MW by changing the fuel system of the project, he said. The Power Department has set a target to ensure the round the clock power supply in Guwahati city by reviving the Chandrapur plant. The Minister said, the State Government has also prepared a special blue print for giving franchisee to the private parties for distribution of power in a part of the Guwahati city. He feels, this move will enhance the competitiveness of the ASEB by setting up a quality benchmark where the efficiency in providing service is concerned. In the present scenario, the general customers are the worst sufferers, he said. According to him, the Department of Power has initiated the move as per the experts suggestions, since the steps for setting up three electricity distribution companies taken four year back by spliting the ASEB has failed to achieve the expected objective. "The interest of the general customers can not be ignored, and the Government has to go for every options to ensure it,' he declared.