Closure of Ropar thermal unit worsens power scenario in Punjab V K Gupta
28 July, 2012

Punjab is facing power shortage of more than 300 lac units daily as state failed to add capacity in last five years.
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THE POWER shortage in Punjab is more than 300 lac units daily and power cuts range between 6 to 8 hours a day. The closure of Ropar thermal unit further worsened the power scenario.

The power demand in state is more than 10000MW and power shortage is more than 2100 MW. The dip in hydro power availability due to poor monsoon is 65 lac units as compared to last year. Punjab is getting more than 40 lac units less from BBMB as reservoir level in Bhakra and Pong are 65 feet below last year level on same day. Even Ranjit Sagar is supplying 24 lac units lesser as compared to last year as water level is 499.14 meter against last year’s level of 509.22 meters.

The unit 1 at Ropar was closed due to LP turbine problem. Earlier unit 3 was down due to boiler leakage which was revived yesterday. According to sources, unit 1 may be revived later in night. The daily power demand is over 2100 lac units whereas supply is about 1800 lac units. The delay in the commissioning of new thermal units by private companies has white washed the hopes of a power surplus state.

Punjab is banking heavily on power purchase to bridge the gap between demand and supply. The daily power purchase from all sources is 1000 lac units. The short term power purchases are also more than 525 lac units.

A senior PSPCL engineer said that had the Government spent even half the amount of power purchase on adding capacity addition in state sector the power scene would have been different. Four years back picture looked rosy on papers but in practice all types of excuses by private sector companies give no relief to consumers.

In the adjoining Haryana power position is more acute where three thermal units of Chinese design equipment are out of gear for a long time. There is coal problem with recently commissioned Jhajjar units. The daily power cuts range from 8 to 10 hours in cities as shortage touched 300 lac units daily