Amid reports of acute shortage of coal in the thermal power plants of Uttar Pradesh the already bleak power scenario in Uttarakhand could worsen. The power supply in the State would be affected if generation from the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Singhrauli and Rihand power stations stops as power is supplied to Uttarakhand from these two power plants. The share of Uttarakhand in the Singhrauli power plant is 150 MW while the share of power from Rihand plant is 90 MW.
Thermal power stations of the country generate 134388 MW out of total power generation of 228721 MW. These power plants are facing shortage of coal to generate power. The reports suggest that the many power plants of NTPC are left with coal which could sustain production for two to seven days only. If the NTPC reduces its power generation, then the shortfall in the central pool would surely mean reduction in the power available for Uttarakhand.
The State is already reeling under a power shortage due to reduced production from its hydro electric stations. The problem of silt- which is a common occurrence during the time of rains- has caused a steep decline in the power production of the state. The production from the hydro electric stations of the state for last few days is hovering at 11- 18 Million Units (MU) against a demand of 24 MU. On Thursday the production from these power stations was 18.23 MU. Due to the problem of silt Kalagarh and Khatima power stations did not produce any power on Friday.
On Thursday due to heavy rains the production from 90 MW, Maneri Bhali Phase I plant was stopped for seven hours while 304 MW Maneri Bhali Phase II did not produce power for three hours. Similarly the 144 MW Chilla power plant was also affected by silt as turbine was stopped for eight hours on Thursday. The shortage in the power production is affecting the industrial units of the state. The industrial consumption in the state is 7- 8 MU while the industry is getting only 4-6 MU power from last few days.
It has caused a shortfall in the output of the industries of the state. On Friday due to maintenance works in the 400 KV Rishikesh substation of PTCUl the power supply in the non continuous industry, which requires 24*7 power supply, of Jwalapur, SIDCUl Haridwar and the rural areas of Kotdwar, Jwalapur and Bhupatwala were affected.
The spokesperson of Uttarakhand Power Corporation limited (UPCl) Madhusudan told The Pioneer that currently state is receiving its allotted share of power from the NTPC. He accepted that the generation of power at hydro power stations slows down during the rainy season but at the same time the demand in this season is also low.