PowerMin may ask plants to delay annual maintenance work

New Delhi:
Union Power Ministry is likely to order power generation firms to delay the annual maintenance work at their thermal plants as delayed monsoon is likely to compound electricity deficit by impacting hydro-power production. “Usually July-August is the time when thermal power plants go for maintenance, but in such conditions we have to postpone that two to three months,” said Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. He said: “So far there is not much impact on electricity generation, but yes delayed monsoon is a cause of worry, so we have to take care of the country by providing them electricity through thermal power.” However, the ministry is yet to officially communicate it to the generation companies. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the rainfall was deficient by 25 per cent as on July 8, with 22 out of 36 regions experiencing below-normal rainfalls. The Central Water Commission reported that water levels in the 84 reservoirs used for ‘storage’ are below normal.
As per latest Central Electricity Authority data, the reservoir level of Bhakra Nangal Dam, one of the country’s largest dams, stood at 473 metres as against its full capacity of 513 metres. Similar is the plight of about 30 dams in the country. The reservoir level of Tehri dam in Uttarakhand was 761 metres as against the full capacity of 830 metres. The reservoir level of Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat was 114 metres as compared to the full level of 139 metres and that of Nagarjun Sagar dam in Andhra Pradesh was 155 metres, as compared to the full reservoir level of 180 metres. The state-run hydro power generation company, NHPC, which currently generates over 5,000 megawatt (MW) of electricity plans to commission 1,200 MW of capacity during the current financial year, including spill-over from the last fiscal. Power Ministry has set a target of adding 88,000 MW in the next five years, from all sources of energy. PTI