Punjab Newsline
Fire shuts down Ropar thermal unit no. 6
VINOD KUAMR GUPTA
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
ROPAR: A fire broke out at the unit number 6 of thermal plant here Tuesday noon resulting tripping of unit nO.6. The unit generated 50 lakh units worth more than Rs 1 crore daily.

The fire broke out at around 11.55 AM and could be controlled only by 1 PM. Today morning employees working in the unit noticed a stock of cables in boiler area was smoldering due to accumulation of hot-coal dust.

It may be recalled that unit no 5 remained closed for about one month when a major fire broke out in cable gallery on June 15 last. A fire incidence had also occurred earlier on May 16 last year resulting in tripping of unit An other fire incidence took place on unit 5 on August 29 last year. This is the forth fire incidence in stage 3 units.

According to a senior plant official the continuous emission of coal dust from coal mills and resultant accumulation of coal dust on steam pipes and cables due to poor maintenance is the only cause of fire. The accumulated coal dust on steam pipes coupled with steam leakage heats up the ash and falling red hot ash on cable racks below causes smoldering in cables resulting in fire incidences Plant officials were busy assessing the damage and no one was willing to talk about the fire incidence.