Power situation worsens
K S Chawla

Ludhiana, September 26
The power supply position in the state has worsened during the past three days and the domestic feeders are being subjected to eight-hour power cuts and the industry is facing two to three days’ compulsory weekly off.

The power supply situation has aggravated due to the failure of two units of thermal plants - one each at Bathinda and Lehra Mohabbat. The boilers of the two plants have developed some snag that is taking time to come on the stream again.

PSEB sources said there was no let-up in the demand for power because of the rise in temperature and humidity level. The daily consumption had touched 1,900 lakh units and the shortfall was more than 550 lakh units. During the peak paddy-sowing season, the daily consumption of power had touched 2,100 lakh units, when the tube wells were supplied eight hours’ power daily. Now this has been reduced to five hours.

The induction and arc furnaces in the state have been asked to keep their units shut for three days and the general industries to observe two days’ compulsory off.

Enquiries made by The Tribune today show that the water level in the Bhakra reservoir is also depleting and is a cause of worry for the BBMB authorities. The BBMB authorities have cut the generation from the Bhakra complex by about 70 lakh units daily to conserve water. The water level in both Bhakra and Pong reservoirs is alarmingly low --- the water level in Bhakra was lower by 42 ft as compared with last year’s level and Pong has a lower level by 50 ft.

K D Chaudhry, member (distribution), PSEB, said that some relief was possible only after October 5 when paddy load would fall. Meanwhile, there is no hope of filling up of Bhakra and Pong reservoirs now as the monsoon period is over.