UP remains 'powerless' as mercury soars

Lucknow, Apr 25: For the last one month Uttar Pradesh is facing acute power crisis and the dismal scenario is not likley to improve anytime soon as several NTPC units are out of steam and the generation by state thermal power units is much below the required level.

The power situation, which started worsening even before the onset of summers, is going through tough times as mercury is soaring and demand is perpetually northwards.

The Northern Grid, which caters power to nine states, is under severe stress with its frequency hovering around 48 Hz, an alarming level. This is mainly due to its contributors lacking in generating adequate power and withdrawal by needy states, including UP, exceeding the limits.

There have been several occasions in recent past that Northern Grid was on the verge of collapse, but the situation could be saved only by massive power cuts.

In UP, the gap between demand and supply is more than 2,000 MW with most districts been subjected to power cuts of period upto 14 hrs.

There is no improvement in sight as two 500 MW, units, one each at Singrauli and Rihand are out for about a month -- the former due to overhauling, while the latter due to problem in its excitation, the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) sources told UNI here.

Another 110 MW unit at Tanda Thermal Station is also not working adding to the power woes.

The availability to UP is hampered as the state has the largest share -- 35-40 per cent -- from the Central sector from these NTPC units.

UNI