Rain relief: PSPCL relaxes power cuts
The heavy rainfall has brought a breather for the power-strapped Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which, for the first time this summer, saw the power demand dipping by nearly 500 lakh units. Subsequently, the PSPCL relaxed all power cuts for the day with plans to drop it further if the situation remained under control.
The heavy rainfall has brought a breather for the power-strapped Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which, for the first time this summer, saw the power demand dipping by nearly 500 lakh units. Subsequently, the PSPCL relaxed all power cuts for the day with plans to drop it further if the situation remained under control.
PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director KD Chaudhri said due to widespread rain on Wednesday, the powercom had relaxed power cuts on all categories of consumers, including the industry. Releasing the data, he said there were 1600 lakh units of power available against the demand of nearly 1700 lakh units. He added that unit 3 of Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat, which developed a snag due to leakage in the boiler tube, was operational again thereby increasing thermal generation by 50 lakh units.
"We did not impose any power cuts on Wednesday and Thursday. In case power snapped, it was because of technical snags due to rains," said Chaudhri. "We can continue this relaxation if the situation allows. We can manage power up to 2000 lakh units, but whenever it exceeds, we will have to impose cuts again. However, I am hopeful that the dip in the temperature will continue in the coming days," said the PSPCL chairman.
On coal stocks, Chaudhri said sufficient stock was available at all the thermal plants. Detailing, he said the Bathinda plant had stock for 33 days, while Ropar had stock for 17 days and Lehra Mohabbat plant had a stock for 15 days. He hoped rains to continue for few days more so that the powercom could maintain a normal supply for the remaining period of paddy season.
It is meanwhile feared that a coal shortage resulting from massive rain in the central part of the country and disruption of rail traffic could spoil the PSPCL's plans.