Walia concerned on overdrawal from N Grid by neighbouring states

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Concerned over almost round-the-clock overdrawal of power by the neighbouring states from the Northern Grid, which has resulted in frequent power cuts in Delhi, state Power Minister A K Walia today said he would urge Union Minister of State for Power to exhort those states to strictly follow grid discipline in all times to come.

Dr Walia said he would address a letter to MoS Jairam Ramesh requesting him to intervene in the matter so that power consumers in the Delhi could be supplied uninterrupted electricity which is a commitment of the state government.

The Minister would communicate the deep concern of the state government over frequent power cuts due to non-observance of discipline by the neighbouring states like UP, Rajasthan, Punjab, J and K and request the MoS to issue specific instructions to the overdrawing states of the Northern Region to resist from overdrawing of power, which is causing unnecessary hardships to the citizens of Delhi.

In the last few days it has been observed that there is heavy and almost round-the-clock overdrawal of power than the allocated share by some of the neighbouring states of the Northern Grid.

Although Delhi has marginally overdrawn from grid for a short duration on April 23 when one of the Power Plants at Dadri had to be shut down, it was forced to cut power supply 85 times in different parts of state causing rotational load-shedding to the extent of about one hour duration during the day due to operation of under frequency relays caused by overdrawal by the neighbouring states of the Northern Region.

Load of 3339 MW was met yesterday at 2017 hrs while 75 MW load-shedding was carried out due to under frequency relay operations at the peak time.

Sources in the Delhi Transco said due to less Hydro Generation of about 2000 MW per day because of inadequate water in the rivers and thermal units being under maintenance, frequency is being driven below 49 Hz for about 90 per cent of the time. Normal frequency is 50 Hz.

Dr Walia has assured power consumers in Delhi that his department would not spare any stone unturned in providing quality and uninterrupted power supply in all parts of the city as people will not be allowed to face unwarranted power cuts in a season which is becoming hot day by day.

UNI AR SP DB2011