Orissa has blamed falling power supply from the Central power stations of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and slump in reservoir levels of southern hydro power stations, triggered by scanty rainfall, for the current power deficit situation.
Responding to the Opposition's allegations on mismanagement of power sector by the state government, minister for energy Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said, “The power crisis in the state has been caused by a host of factors including unavailability of adequate coal, disruptions in power supply from NTPC power stations and slump in reservoir levels of southern hydro power stations. We are getting 50 per cent less power from the NTPC plants. As the Kahalgaon and Farakka power stations of NTPC have mostly remained shut in the recent times, Orissa has been deprived of power.”
The state was facing a power deficit of 300-400 MW every day. While peak power demand stood at 3300 MW, non-peak demand was at 2700 MW, he informed. Hydro power generation had drastically fallen to 240 MW on account of plunging reservoir levels at southern hydro power stations in the state. To tide over the shortfall, Grid Corporation of Orissa has been asked to purchase power from different sources, Nayak said. The Independent Power Plants (IPPs) and captive Generating Plants (CGPs) were together contributing 600 MW to the state grid. Not satisfied with the minister's reply, the Congress legislators staged a walkout of the assembly. Congress MLA Mamata Madhi had initiated an adjournment motion on power cut and its impact on the poor people in the state.