Powerhouses at Kotla, Nakkian remain shut
Punjab State Electricity Board suffers huge losses
Megha Mann
Tribune News Service

Nangal, September 13
Kotla and Nakkian powerhouses of Anandpur Sahib hydel channel have not been generating power for the last three days, which has caused losses worth lakhs to the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB).

Taking advantage of the dip in mercury and incessant rains in some parts of state, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has decided to retain water in Gobind Sagar dam by cutting off releases.

Sources said no water supply to Anandpur Sahib hydel channel was a part of this strategy.

Power generation is expected to remain closed for the next two days as well.

Today, the level of water in the Bhakra dam was 1629.50 feet, which is 45.5 feet less as compared to the same day last year.

With filling season of the dam coming to an end on September 21 and monsoon expected to last for another one week, the BBMB is making all efforts to retain water level of the dam mainly for the rabi season.

With the rains, demand for power has dipped considerably.

According to data available with the Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre, the demand for power in the state slipped from 799 MW on September 9 to 453 MW on September 12.

Similarly, the water release from Bhakra for irrigation purposes has been reduced from 21,324 cusecs on September 9 to a mere 10,049 cusecs on September 13.

Experts opined that these figures meant that power crisis in state would continue. They added that in wake of this power cuts would also continue.

“Even if it rains heavily for another week, water will not be able to reach last year’s level.

With the possibility of very late revival of monsoon, the Board hopes that the move to economise water release will help meet the future requirements,” said BBMB officials.