Thermal plants resume ops

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 25

After a brief closure, following coal shortage due to the farmer agitation and cancellation of trains, the thermal power plants in Punjab have started generating power again.

A Venu Prasad, Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD), Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), said the dreadful situation and apprehensions of public about the possibility of a black out in the state was averted due to the timely decisions taken by PSPCL.

The CMD said despite nearly two months of ‘rail roko’ agitation by farmers, PSPCL managed the entire situation without any load shedding on commercial and industrial consumers, though minimum possible demand side management was carried out by way of curtailing power to agriculture sector and through minimum possible imposition of power cuts on domestic consumers.

Prasad further said that due to the late sowing of paddy crop and an extended dry spell during September and October, the paddy season’s demand had extended till about the second week of October. “Also, due to lower reservoir levels in hydro power stations, their generation was considerably less this year. Catering to power demand during November, when the festival season was in full swing, was also of utmost importance”, he added.

DPS Grewal, Further Director (Distribution), said PSPCL had arranged power from outside the state by way of procurement through power exchanges and also full power was availed from its quota of share in the Centre sector power stations. “PSPCL arranged maximum power of 2,600 MW aggregating 1,606 Million Units at Rs 3.09 per unit from power exchanges and quantum of 1,435 MW power aggregating 392 MUs at Rs 3.05 per unit from portal,” he stated.