Uttar Pradesh faced long power outages on Monday after two electricity generating units — one each at Obra and Parischa — tripped on Sunday.
Uttar Pradesh recently earned the dubious distinction of being the most electricity-deficient state on account of decreased generation from government-owned units, according to figures released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
On Monday, a power department official who wished to remain unnamed said they went ahead with overdrawing from the central pool after an approval from the chief minister's office. "We were left with little option as it was the festival of Raksha Bandhan and we could not have risked blackouts," he added.
The state has registered a supply shortfall of 3,849 megawatts (MW) – 24.5% of its total demand – in the first quarter of 2014 financial year (April to June), beating Jammu and Kashmir's 20% deficit figure.
There is a wide gap of almost 2,000 MW between the demand and supply, the UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) said.
Experts, however, said the state's power crisis was not just on account of low generation. Poor infrastructure –transmission lines, substations, transformers –
contributed to the crisis too, according to them. The shortage of coal further aggravated the problem.
Long-drawn power trouble
The power deficit has shot up in UP by 10% from last year, causing widespread outages. Apart from low generation from state's plants, poor infrastructure has strained limited supply.
Long-drawn power trouble
The power deficit has shot up in UP by 10% from last year, causing widespread outages. Apart from low generation from state's plants, poor infrastructure has strained limited supply.
Monday's outage
On Sunday, power was overdrawn from UP's central pool as it was the festival of Raksha Bandhan and the electricity department wished to avoid blackouts. One unit each at Obra and Parischa tripped subsequently.