No respite from cuts as 'power-hit' Delhiites swelter

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) With one more unit of the Badarpur power plant here shutting down last night leading to loadshedding of a whopping 346 MWs, Delhiites already reeling under acute power shortage today experienced one of the season's worst days.

Delhi Transco spokesman said the condition deteriorated as another Badarpur unit gave way due to boiler tube leak (BTL) last night.

''Generally loadshedding is done to maintain grid discipline or for maintenance of the system, but today's maximum loadshedding reached 346 MW which was due to generation shortage, though the peak demand was 2,831 MW.'' Yesterday, nearly 199 MW of load shedding was resorted to by Delhi Transco in various areas even as the peak demand was 3027 MW.

Transco sources maintain that there was no other way to meet peak demands in Delhi except overdrawing from the Northern Grid.

Regular overdrawing by states receiving power from the Grid and several Central power plants supplying power to it being non-functional, the Grid continues to be hit by frequency problems as power demand outpaces generation by several notches.

Meanwhile, despite the Central Electricity Authority having asked all the nine states, which draw power from the Northern Grid, not to overdraw electricity resulting in frequency problems, they continue to do so.

Nevertheless, Delhi Transco sources believe that with some Central power plants like those at Dadri, Sanghrauli, Nathpa Jakhri and Indraprastha coming into operation soon, power generation of the Grid might improve.

UNI AN MSJ PC2016