BHEL-constructed thermal power plant under scanner

The 500 Mw, Rs 7,000-cr Anpara D unit plant has tripped several times since its launch in March

A thermal power plant constructed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has come under the scanner with Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), seeking details of the 500 megawatt (Mw) Anpara D unit in Sonebhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

The plant, which cost over Rs 7,000 crore, was inaugurated by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav with much fanfare on March 31, 2015. However, the plant has not been able to run properly and has tripped several times.

BHEL had constructed the unit for UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) and it took nearly 8 years for getting commissioned.

Last week, UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad had submitted a public interest memorandum with ERC seeking probe in the matter.

Pursuant to the petition, ERC secretary Arun Kumar Srivastava has written to the managing director of UPRVUNL seeking his reply within a week.

In his letter, he mentioned that despite having taken 8 years for erection/commissioning, the Anpara D unit had not been generating power even after having attained full load on June 6, 2015.

Earlier this month, a fresh attempt to fire up the unit had also failed. The serious of failures over the last over four months has put up a big question mark on the quality of machine and turbines.

It has caused much embarrassment to UP top energy department brass, since the unit was projected to augment availability of electricity in UP especially during summer months and provide cheap power. It was projected to supply power at about Rs 2.92 per unit compared to much steeper tariffs charged by private sector plants.

Meanwhile, Parishad chairman Avdhesh Verma has also urged chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to recommend a CBI probe in the matter to expose the alleged wrong doing and laxity on the part of central public sector enterprise BHEL.

The Anpara D project had been developed at an ash pond site, which was used to dump fly ash generated from burning of coal by Anapara A and B thermal power projects.

EOM