NTPC to help plug power shortage in UP

The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will provide 750 mw electricity to Uttar Pradesh from Sunday onwards to help it combat the prevailing power crisis spurred largely by lack of coal in the state’s power plants.

The NTPC agreed to pitch in after UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) chairman and principal secretary (energy) Sanjay Agrawal called its top management seeking the help.

As per the agreement, the NTPC will make available 750 MW power to the UPPCL round the clock till October 11 for Rs 4 per unit.

Agrawal also held a meeting with the officials here to review the crisis arising from the coal shortage affecting power generation at thermal plants. It was told at the meeting that coal supply to the Anpara thermal plants was affected because of damage caused to the rail tracks used to transport fuel from the National Coal Ltd (NCL).

Sources, however, said that the 750 mw power that the NTPC has agreed to supply would be too little going by the huge demand-supply gap in the state. Three of the six power generating units in Anpara have come to a standstill while the remaining three units are generating power only partially due to lack of coal, causing a electricity crisis during the festive season. Currently, the demand-supply gap continues to be as big as 2000-2500 MW every day.

UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) managing director AP Mishra informed during the meeting that Coal India had agreed to supply coal to UP from alternative sites. He claimed the state’s thermal plants might get normal coal supply in a couple of days.

Agrawal directed the officials to arrange additional power from all possible sources, including the energy exchange, to ensure there was no power crisis during the coming festivals.

LUCKNOW: