Orissa firms up 300 Mw through power banking for summer

As part of its plan to minimize the inconvenience of the people, the Orissa government has firmed up 300 Mw power from other states to meet the summer demand for power.

While Punjab has already agreed to supply power to the state during May-June this year, talks are in advanced stage with states like West Bengal, Assam and Haryana to get power through the power banking route to meet power demand.

Simultaneously, the government is also working on a plan to ensure no power cut during the evening hours. The power distribution companies have been asked not to resort to power cut in the evening as it would badly affect the preparation of the students for the coming examinations.

The state energy department is working in tandem with the water resources and agriculture departments, to maximize hydro power generation during the peak demand hours in the evening to make power available to the distribution companies.

Sources said, the government intends to make about 1000 Mw power available to the power distribution companies to meet the peak demand.“We are trying to avoid power cut from 6 pm to 6 am and intend to confine power cut to the morning hours only”, a senior official of the state energy department said.