BS
Power situation turns grim in UP
Rawat / New Delhi/ Lucknow April 30, 2009,

Demand-supply gap widens by 3,000 Mw.
The power situation is turning grim by the day in Uttar Pradesh with peak hour demand touching 9,500 Megawatt (Mw) against the total supply pegged at 6,500 Mw.

The situation is compounded by the ongoing Lok Sabha election with the state government trying hard to meet the demand.

The availability of 6,500 Mw power includes import of 3,500 Mw from the central sector and other sources, while the generation capacity of all the 26-odd hydro and thermal power units in the state totals to 3,000 Mw.

Last month, UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) had entered into an agreement with the Himachal Pradesh government for purchasing 250 Mw and 400 Mw in the two respective fortnights of April 2009 at Rs 7.5 per unit.

Since snow in the higher reaches of the hill state has not melted yet, the hydro power generation is low and Himachal is able to provide only 60 Mw per day to UP.

UPPCL is resorting to scheduled/unscheduled power cuts to bridge the demand-supply gap. The areas where polling is yet to be held are especially being given adequate supply, an official source said.

The industrial enclaves of Kanpur are being subjected to 7-hour power cuts daily during the night from 2200 hrs to 0500 hrs.

“In summer, the rolling mills function during the night, since it is hot during day time and the heat generated from the machines is immense for labourers to bear. But, due to power cuts, they are forced to operate during day time,” Indian Industries Association (IIA) former president Khetrapal told Business Standard.

Kanpur city areas are also facing 6-hour power cuts daily spread over day and night. Barring the state capital, the power situation is similar in other urban areas, leave aside the rural pockets.

“We are trying to enter into power purchase agreements with other states and power utilities for May and subsequent months,” UPPCL additional managing director Narendra Bhushan informed.

Meanwhile, Adarsh Vyapar Mandal state president Sanjay Gupta said the power situation was grim in eastern UP, notably Varanasi and Allahabad.