Power paucity in MP due to erratic rain

Jabalpur, July 25 (UNI) Erratic rainfall in Madhya Pradesh has led to a 10 per cent spurt in power demand, compared to last year, while no rise in water level of reservoirs resulted in heavy paucity and unscheduled outages.

State Electricity Board sources said that the level of the Indira Sagar reservoir, that feeds the state's largest 1,000 MW hydroelectric project, was about 10 m less on July 23 compared to the corresponding period last year. The reservoir level is 17 m below full-tank level.

Only 100-150 MW are being generated from Indira Sagar.

Likewise, water storage is proving impossible in the 520-MW Omkareshwar Project's reservoir as there are no sluice gates and on account of a court order. The daily generation at Omkareshwar is reliant on water released from Indira Sagar and the present output is about 100 MW.

The Sardar Sarovar Project's reservoir level is also roughly 10 m lower compared to the corresponding period last year. Madhya Pradesh has a 826-MW share of SSP's output. Average receipt was 600-650 MW last year but is less than 100 MW this year.

The state receives 106.7 MW from the 160-MW Pench Project whose water level is minimal -- approximately 10 m below last year.

The reservoir was yet to fill by a further 20 m and generation has almost dropped to nil compared to full generation in the corresponding period last year.

The Gandhi Sagar reservoir level is 25 feet lower than last year resulting in output dropping by about 100 MW.

The state is receiving about 500 MW from other hydel projects whose total capacity is roughly 600 MW. Madhya Pradesh has total hydel potential of 3,263.7 MW but is receiving only 800-850 MW -- about 1,500 MW less than last year.

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