3 state-run power plants not functioning: Guj govt

Three state-owned power stations are currently not generating electricity, while ten others are doing so just partially, Gujarat Assembly was told today.
State Energy Minister Saurabh Patel, in a written reply to Congress MLA from Ahmedabad Gyasuddin Shaikh, admitted that there are three plants -- gas-fired power plant in Uttaran, mini-hydro power plant on Panam dam and Hazira power plant near Surat -- which have now turned non-functional.
The Uttaran plant is ready to generate electricity, but was closed after orders were given by the State Load Dispatch Center due to low demand and high generation cost, he said, adding that the Panam mini-hydro plant is shut for now after the Irrigation department decided to reserve the water for irrigation, and the Hazira plant is shut for maintenance.

Apart from them, ten others -- Ukai thermal station, Gandhinagar, Vanakbori, Sikka, Kutch, Dhuvaran, Ukai Hydro power station, Kadana Hydro, GIPCL and Hazira GSEG -- are not producing power in full capacity, the Minister said.
"Even if these plants are not generating electricity or producing less than the installed capacity, there is no need to buy electricity, as Gujarat is surplus in electricity generation," he added.
"The total installed capacity of all the power plants in Gujarat is 23,883 MW against the total demand of 13,740 MW. Thus, we don't need to buy electricity from other states," Patel said in his written reply.

While replying to a question by Congress MLA Tejashree Patel, the Minister claimed that Gujarat is in fact selling surplus electricity to other states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.