23 Aug 2012 Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)HT Correspondent
Demand declines, rain relief to power units

LOAD CENTRE ADVISES RESTRAINT TO PUNJAB, SINCE FOUR HYDROELECTRICITY PLANTS SUPPLYING 3,200-MW TO REGION ARE SHUT TEMPORARILY

RUPNAGAR: The thermal electricity units in Punjab have been put on back down because of a decreased demand of power after widespread rain in the region.

Unit 4 of Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant here is running at 190 megawatt against a full load of 210 MW, while units 2 and 5 are operating at 200 MW and unit 6 on full load. Unit 3 is shut since boiler leakage in the morning.

The thermal electricity unit at Lehra Mohabbat is also on back down (decrease of generation with the falling of load). Units 1 and 2 are running at 187 megawatt against a full load of 210 MW, while units 3 and 4 are operating at 220 MW against a full load of 250 MW.

In the interest of smooth operation of the Northern Grid, the Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC) has advised Punjab to restrict drawing energy.

Four hydroelectricity plants supplying about 3,200-MW electricity to the region are shut down temporarily.
The 1 , 5 0 0 - MW Nathpa Jhakri, 1,000-MW KarchamWangtoo, 300-MW Chamera-2, and 231-MW Chamera-3 hydroelectricity projects were shut on Monday because of a high level of silt in water.

The reason is stated on the NRLDC website.

On Wednesday, the Bairasuil hydel plant was also closed for silt problems.

There is shortfall of more than 3,000-MW electricity to the Northern Grid because of no generation at four hydroelectricity projects.

The share of Punjab is 54.47 MW from Chamera-1; 27.64 MW from Chamera 2; 25.49 MW from Chamera 3; 194 MW from Nathpa Jhakri; and 95 MW from Bairasuil. The share of Haryana is 84 MW from Chamera 1; 19 MW from Chamera 2; 20 MW from Chamera 3; and 102 MW from Nathpa Jhakri.