MP power crisis gets worse

The power situation in MP has worsened with three units of two thermal power utilities coming to a halt. Thermal power generation slipped to as low as 1,349 Mw, while unrestricted demand hovered around 5,977 Mw to 6,387 Mw.

Earlier, the Korba unit of 500 Mw (central share) came to a halt on November 20, thereby creating a shortage of 105 Mw in the central share to the state.

"The unit is likely to generate power again after three months," said a government official

Thermal power units at the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station, Birsinghpur and the Amarkantak Chachai thermal power, Chachai, developed technical snags in the evening of December 17.

Two units""one of 120 Mw and the other of 20 Mw""at the Amarkantak thermal power station developed boiler leakages, while the 210 Mw unit of the Sanjay Gandhi Thermal Power Station developed Reheater tube leakage. "The units are likely to get ready for power generation in a day or two," said a government official.

The state government, according to a state secretariat official, had issued a letter of intent to purchase 1,240 Mw of power during the day and 780 Mw of power to meet the night demand for additional power with a daily expense of Rs 5.2 crore. But only 1,115 MW of power could be secured.

The hydel power stations in Madhya Pradesh are generating only 526 Mw against the installed capacity of 835 Mw. Hydel power generation also includes the power generated from the 1,000 Mw Indira Sagar power project, which is churning out 125 Mw of power (as on 26 November 2005).

Power availability stood at 3,962 Mw against the peak demand of 5,245 MW on December 15 and availability slipped further by another 450 Mw approximately.

Despite tall claims by three BJP-led government chief ministers none of the private power utility has made an investment in Madhya Pradesh. State government only has few MoUs to boast, which is no sign of fresh investment in power sector.