State lags in power supply, capacity generation
DP Correspondent

Patiala

Punjab lags behind Haryana in daily power supply after it failed to add capacity addition in the past 10 years.

The capacity addition in power generation undertaken by Haryana has yielded results and the Punjab has lagged behind for it’s over dependence on private sector. Haryana is a smaller state in every respect as compared to Punjab but has taken lead in power supply during any day and in meeting evening peak load demand.

As per Central Electricity Authority reports, power supply in Punjab was 925 lakh units (LU) while in case of Haryana it was around 1000 lakh units daily. Haryana supplied 1000 LU on November 1, 1030 LU on November 7, 1007 LU on November 14 and 959 LU on November 21 respectively. The corresponding figures for Punjab were 945 LU, 942 LU, 779 LU and 823 LU.

In case of evening peak load demand met in November, it varied between 4,434 MW to 5,028 MW. In case of Punjab it varied between 4,196 MW to 4,629 MW.

Punjab has not added any capacity generation during last 10 years but it is likely to add in next financial year. Punjab’s over dependence on private companies have not yielded desired results. Punjab’s thermal capacity is 2,620 MW and Hydro generation is 994.75 MW. Thus total power generation is 3,700 MW.

The upcoming projects scheduled for next year are 540 MW (2x270) Goindwal Sahib thermal and one unit of 660 MW at Talwandi Sabo. 1,400 MW Rajpura thermal may come in calendar year 2014.There are no traces of NTPC’s Gidderwaha thermal project. NTPC is reportedly thinking of walking out of the project in absence of coal linkage. Mukerian thermal in state sector is in very initial stages.

Haryana has added 1200 MW (2x600) at Khedar thermal plant. It has 90 per cent share in China Light & Power Ltd.’s 1320 MW (2x660) thermal project at Jhajjar. Besides this state has 50 per cent share in NTPC 1500 MW (3x500) project at Jhajjar. HPGCL’s own generation is 2072 MW whereas total generation from all sources is 4974.4 MW.

The tragedy with Haryana was its over dependence on Reliance and Chinese machinery. Chinese machinery has been giving trouble since inception. The closure for both units at Yamunanagar thermal due to rotor faults for last 9 to 15 months is ample proof of this. Khedar units are also giving trouble due to technical faults.