So, the government has now decided to set up its own thermal power plant in another state where it may be allocated a coal block, but experts say it's an extremely long process involving acquiring land, getting environmental clearance, inviting bidders for construction and many other steps.

This apart, some experts also feel that "outsourcing" electricity generation to a coal-rich state may not be a very good idea as it will also lead to air and water pollution in the area where the coal block is located. "It will take at least five to eight years, from commissioning to running of the plant. It can't be done in a couple of years," said Priyavrat Bhati, programme director, sustainable industrialization, Centre for Science and Environment. He also pointed out that it's very unusual for a state government to build its own plant in another state and that its legal implications should be checked. Some experts said they were uncomfortable with the idea as several coal block areas are severely polluted.

At the same time, Aam Admi Party (AAP) manifesto, which has an ambitious plan for solar power, seems to have generated some hope. Experts feel Delhi has a huge potential for harnessing solar power but the nitty-gritty to make it more "competitive" needs to be worked out. "They have said solar will meet 20% of Delhi's power needs by 2025. It's a very high target considering that many state governments are still looking at targets like 5%. They should also quickly develop a road map for that. It's difficult to tell now if renewable energy can address the power crunch in Delhi. It has to be a combination of both," said an expert who declined to be named.

Rooftop Revolution, a report by Bridge To India, has estimated that of 700 sq km, which is Delhi's total built-up space, about 31sq km is the "available roof space" that can be utilized for the solar project and that it has a potential to generate 2,557 MW.

The Badarpur plant is run by NTPC. It has a capacity of 705 MW but discoms have for long been demanding that the plant be shut because it's old and inefficient and the coal allocated to it be diverted to newer power stations. Despite this, NTPC is learnt to have sent a proposal to CERC seeking nearly Rs 190 crore for the continued maintenance and operations of three units of the 705-MW Badarpur thermal station. This has sent the power discoms into a tizzy. The discoms claimed that instead of phasing out this power plant, which is over 40 years old, investing more in it would send power purchase costs spiralling.