Thanks to transmission curbs, Punjab unable to draw 800 MW of power

KD Chaudhary
with capacity restricted after the grid failure, punjab can tap only 4,300 MW against 5,100 MW allotted to it
Punjab being an agrarian state needs power to divert it to farm sector to save the kharif crops
YOGINDRA MOHAN

Patiala

Following restrictions clamped on power transmission capacity after the recent grid failure, Punjab has not been able to draw almost 800 MW of power from outside, which has further worsened the power scenario in the state.

“After the grid failure, our power transmission capacity has been restricted by the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC). Now we are able to tap only 4,300 MW from outside sources against 5,100 MW allotted to us,” Punjab State Power Corporation Chairman and Managing Director KD Chaudhary said on Saturday.

He said, “We are now facing a shortfall of 800 MW of power because of restrictions imposed on us,” adding that Punjab had taken up the matter with the Centre in this regard.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh had on Friday assured Punjab and Haryana to take up the matter at the appropriate level to redress their issue. Punjab being an agrarian state needs power to divert it to farm sector to save the kharif crops in the wake of deficient rain.

Ramesh, who was on a visit to Chandigarh on Friday along with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, assured both Punjab and Haryana that efforts would be made to remove the restrictions to enable the two states to get smooth supply of power.

“Punjab and Haryana have informed us that they were not able to draw full power supply because of some technical prohibition imposed by Union Power minister after unprecedented grid failure. They say they are facing problems. We will make efforts to remove these prohibitions,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that after the two grid failures, the National Load Dispatch Centre has revised the limits of inter-regional power transmission from different 765 and 400 KV transmission lines. The NLDC has pointed out that in case of both grid failures there was heavy power flow on the 400 KV Bina-Gwalior-Agra single circuit section crossing 1,000 MW on the single circuit available. The 765 KV transmission line was being operated at 400 KV. The second circuit of 400 KV Bina-Gwalior-Agra line was under outage since July 28 for upgradation to 765 KV level. Grid failure was averted earlier at 1510 hours on July 29 under similar conditions.

Power sector experts say that since the upgradation of 400 KV Bina-Agra transmission line is a planned work, it should have been taken up during the lean period. It is well known that power load in northern region is at its peak during paddy sowing season. Moreover, the monsoon this year has been below normal and power demand surpassed utilities estimates.

The NLDC in consultation with Central Electricity Authority and CTU has worked out the short term open access (STOA) approvals to be given by Regional Load Dispatch Centres. Further if at any time due to an emergency in the system, the RLDCs would take all actions necessary to ensure system security, including curtailment of transactions.

The available margin for short term open access from western grid to northern grid through 400 KV Bina-Gwalior-Agra line has been fixed at 790 MW. Similarly, the power transfer from eastern grid to northern grid has been fixed at 2,492 MW through 400 KV Kahalgoan-Biharshrief transmission lines. Similar power transfer has been revised for other inter-regional power transfers

In the worst-ever power crisis, over half of the country’s 1.2 billion population in 21 states went without electricity for several hours on July 30 and July 31 as three major transmission grids failed, bringing northern, eastern and north-eastern regions to a grinding halt.