NTPC cuts power supply in Chhattisgarh

Power crises results in load-shedding in the rural areas

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has curtailed the power it had been supplying to Chhattisgarh plunging the state to face electricity crises.

The country’s largest power producer, NTPC, has two major power projects in Chhattisgarh. While the Korba power station had an installed capacity of 2600-Mw, the Sipat Power Project in Bilaspur district had been generating 2980-Mw power. The state had been getting about 1100-Mw of power from the NTPC.

“The company (NTPC) had cut about 300-Mw of power from the quota it had been supplying to Chhattisgarh,” a senior official in energy department said.

The coal crises and subsequent affect on power production could be the reason behind the decision.The NTPC spokesperson however did not respond to the call.

The official said the monsoon arrived late and the rainfall had been scanty at a few places that had resulted in use of power pumps for irrigation. Moreover, the air-conditioners had also been in use in the urban areas that had increased the power consumption in the state. The development had made a big rift between demand and supply of power.

Chhattisgarh requires about 2500-Mw of power to meet the demand. The supply could be restricted to 2200-Mw that had resulted in power crises in the otherwise power surplus state.

The power distribution company had started power cut in the rural areas. The Naxal -infested pockets had however been exempted from the load-shedding.

In the rural areas, the load-shedding had been effective for two hours daily.

The official said the urban areas had been exempted from load-shedding as of now and the decision would be taken if the crises deepened.