Even as people miserably suffer due to the unscheduled, frequent and prolonged power cuts over the last several days, the State Government on Thursday sought to make light of the crisis, saying it is only a “temporary” phenomenon.
“It is a fact that there are power cuts in many places across the State. This is due to a fall in power generation in the State and it will be resolved soon. The Government is committed to taking every step to resolve the problem,” Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das told the State Assembly while replying to the debate on an adjournment motion on the power crisis.
Stating that deficient rainfalls during June have added to the crisis, the Minister said that once the water level increases in the reservoirs, the power crisis would gradually be over.
The State generally used to generate about 1,100 MW of power during June/July from its six hydropower stations. However, it has come down to only 400 MW as rains are playing hide-and-seek bringing down the water levels in the reservoirs.
The Minister further said the repair works and annual maintenance of the thermal power plants would be completed soon and the plants would produce adequate electricity.
Das said the State could arrange only 2,650 MW of power against its demand of 3,100 MW and, thus, faces a shortage of about 450 MW to 500 MW. The peak hour power demand is about 3,700 MW, he said.
Presently, the State receives 400 MW from the hydropower sector while 650 MW is arranged from the Ib and Talcher Thermal Power Stations (TTPSs). While 900 MW of power is availed from the Central sector, 600 MW comes from captive power plants and IPPs (Independent Power Producers). Similarly, 100 MW is availed from power exchange and other sources, the Minister informed.
Das said the technical snags in the NTPC’s unit at Kanhia, the TTPS unit at Talcher and the NTPC’s Farakka and Kahalgaon units have led to such disruption of power supply. Besides, there is technical snags at two units of the OPGC too.
However, in order to avoid the prevailing crisis, the Minister said, the Gridco, the sole bulk power supplier, has been directed to purchase power from different sources to meet the demand.
The issue was raised in the Assembly by Opposition Congress members, who accused the Government of failing to keep its promise of providing 24×7 power supply to the consumers.