Power situation in Bengal remains bleak

"The situation has worsened since yesterday with several units out of service due to technical snags and shortage of coal. The peak shortfall is likely to be 1,000 Mw," a West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDC) spokesperson said.     

The shortfall in the CESC distribution area at noon was 100 Mw and at peak it was likely to touch 200-250 Mw.     

The districts would have a shortfall of 700-750 Mw.     

The Kolaghat power plant was generating at 70 per cent of capacity, while one 300 Mw unit of Durgapur Projects, a 250-Mw Bandel unit and a 250-Santaldih were already down.     

The 300-Mw Sagardighi unit was running at half load, while units at Titagarh and Bakreswar were also down, the WBSEDC official said.     

Since the shortfall would be faced even at night, the Purulia Pump Storage power plant of 900 Mw could not be utilised to full capacity.     

"We are unable to exploit the Purulia power project capacity completely as we could not lift water due to power shortage even at night," an official said.     

The heavy rainfall in the evening was expected to be a partial breather for power distribution companies which were expecting lower demand compared to peak demand of the previous day.