Hot coal dust on RTP cables to be cleared regularly

Rupnagar, Jun 17 (UNI) Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) is taking effective steps for regular clearing of the hot coal dust falling on the cables of Ropar Thermal Plant.

This was stated by PSEB Member (Generation) G S Sra, who visited the Plant to take stock of the situation arising out of fire in the cable gallery of the stage-III of the plant that led to the tripping of the unit number 5 on Sunday night.

He said the smoldering of cables in the cable gallery due to accumulation of hot coal dust resulted in tripping of the unit.

''Burnt cables are being identified and damaged portion of the cables will be changed,'' he said adding that unit number 5 was on back down due to no demand and would be re-commissioned soon.

Meanwhile, an official of the thermal plant said the burning of large number of cables and subsequent tripping of unit would cause huge loss to the PSEB including generation loss of crores of rupees.''The working conditions in the summer is worse it has become difficult to work with the continuous coal dust emission,'' the official added.

The RTP Employees Union had brought the matter regarding the accumulation of coal dust on the cables many times in to the notice of thermal plant management. It had also demanded immediate retrieval measures to prevent any major mishap.

UNI XC PS PDT RN1849