MPSEB suffering loss running into crores

Betul, MP, June 2 (UNI) Nine units of power-starved Madhya Pradesh's Satpura Thermal Power Station, located at Sarni, stopped functioning more than 40 times over the past two months resulting in about 1,000 hours of generation loss which translates into 150 million units and a setback running into crores for the State Electricity Board, Station sources said.

The Station's four major and five minor units have a total output of 1,142.5 MW.

''The Station has become obsolete. Five 62.5-MW units began generation in 1965. Normally, thermal units have an age of 25 years.

A principal factor in lessening of generation is inadequate coal supply. Four million tonnes should be conveyed to Sarni by train daily but the quantity received is three million,'' Chief Engineer M L Bhagwani told UNI