NTPC to supply 105 MW to power-starved Chhattisgarh

Korba, Oct 3 (UNI) The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will supply 105 MW to salvage Chhattisgarh from an electricity crisis.

''The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board demanded power from NTPC as generation was halted due to repair and maintenance of the private-sector Jindal Power and other units. However, generation has restarted and the situation will improve shortly,'' Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board Chairman Rajeev Ranjan told mediapersons here yesterday.

Claiming that the crisis would be ended forever by this year's end, he added that units under construction would begin generation by next year and Chhattisgarh would consequently have a surplus for the next half a century.

''Of 3.5 lakh customers, a lakh connections were investigated to check revenue theft through meter tampering. After that, billing of Rs 35 crore was carried out. The Board is taking strict measures to prevent transmission and distribution loss,'' the chairman assured.

Outages recently became the order of the day in this state.

Mr Ranjan has been undertaking a flurry of tours for learning about customers' grievances.

UNI XC-AC YA HS1734