Recent days have seen Bokaro residents grappling with persistent power outages, causing significant disruptions across all sectors of the township. The BSL management is implementing scheduled power cuts, providing intermittent electricity every half hour to an hour to prevent inverters from malfunctioning. Despite these efforts, the erratic power supply has only intensified residents' frustration, which they continue to voice on social media platforms.
The power crisis is not confined to the city; it is also affecting operations at the Bokaro Steel Plant. Critical areas such as the foundry, machine shop, and half sinter plant are experiencing interruptions, which are severely impacting production and causing operational challenges. The ongoing crisis, which has persisted for weeks, is disrupting both daily life and industrial activities, exacerbating the frustration among those dependent on a stable power supply.
BSL management is exploring all possible solutions to address the power outages but remains constrained by limited options. Bokaro Power Supply Company Private Limited (BPSCL) has been facing severe power generation issues for several weeks. Additionally, the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is only supplying the contracted 220 MW of power to BSL, leaving the management with no choice but to implement power cuts to keep the plant operational and balance the situation. The inability to secure additional power highlights the severity of the crisis and the complexity of the situation.
Notably, BPSCL, which supplies power to the Bokaro Steel Plant, is grappling with production challenges due to turbine malfunctions. Of the nine turbines, three (numbers 2, 8, and 9) have failed over the past two months, reducing power generation from 160 MW to 100 MW. The ongoing repairs are time-consuming, and questions are being raised about why proactive maintenance measures were not implemented earlier. However, a senior BPSCL officer has assured that one unit will be restored by Saturday morning, which should improve the situation.
To manage the power shortage, BSL's DNW department is implementing rotational power cuts based on current demand. Frequent interruptions are damaging electrical equipment in the township’s substations and transformers. A team from BSL’s electrical department, led by GM Rajul Halkarni, is working diligently to repair the damaged equipment and respond to residents' complaints. TA Chief Kundan Kumar has expressed concern over the ongoing issues and is hopeful for a swift resolution. He assured that all possible efforts are already being made to support the township residents.
