WBSEDCL asks for alternate power from NTPC

The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), one of the bulk consumers of NTPC's Farakka plant, has requested the power generator to make alternative arrangements after the plant stopped production from Sunday due to water crisis.

"We have requested them (NTPC) to provide alternate power and they have assured us that they are looking into it," Rajesh Pandey, chairman and managing director of the company, told IANS.

"Meanwhile, we have made alternate arrangements of our own to ensure there is no load-shedding," he said.

Asked whether the company is planning to buy from the market, Pandey said: "This is the commercial decision and we will take a decision for the best interest of the company."

He said the company would purchase whatever cheapest power is available to meet the demand and ensure there was no power cut.

According to NTPC officials, around 31 percent of power generated from the Farakka plant in Murshidabad district is allocated to the state from its stage one and two units with a combined capacity of 1,600 MW while about 32 percent of power is allotted to the state from the 500 MW stage three unit.