No let up in power crisis in the state

THERE WAS no let up in the Statewide power crisis that took a serious turn on Monday following break down of around half-a-dozen power generating units. The entire State faced an acute crisis as the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) imposed rostering to the extent of over 2000 MW during the peak hours.

According to a press statement issued by the power department, all the State thermal powerhouses together were generating 1800 MW of electricity in the noon, while hydro power generation was as low as 150 MW. The UPPCL imported over 2700 MW of electricity from the Central sector powerhouses to combat the crisis. However, the demand-supply gap was around 1800 MW during the noon itself. In the evening the gap was widened further. The cities and villages underwent additional power cuts. Industries too were brought under eight hour power cuts in the night for the second consecutive day today.

Meanwhile, Energy Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today said that the State Government had this year sanctioned Rs 2799.66 crore for modernization of various power projects and generation of additional electricity. The amount sanctioned during 2005-06 for the same purpose was Rs 1137.19 crore only.