200 MW more to keep NCR warm

The cold wave in north India has resulted in higher power demand in the capital, forcing the Union power ministry to allocate additional 200 Mw electricity to the National Capital Region between 10 AM and 12 noon.

This was decided at a meeting among power ministry officials, Delhi Transco, the Northern Region Load Dispatch Centre, the Northern Region Energy Board, and NTPC to review the power supply situation and find a solution to the power shortage faced during the last two to three days.

With the approval of the additional power supply and the revival of gas turbine units and the Pragati power project, the shortage and the load shedding that the National Capital Region was facing were expected to ease, a Delhi Transco release said.

This will lighten the pressure on Delhi that has been requisitioning 200 Mw on liquid fuel from NTPC power stations at Rs 7 per unit against the average cost of Rs 2.20 per unit.

Though the gap may be bridged there might be some rational load shedding to maintain the Northern Grid discipline.

The shortage was fuelled by the gas pipe leakage, due to which the gas turbine power stations (200 Mw) were shut down for 36 hours. A unit of the Pragati power station was also shut down on account of the turbine problem. The units are back in operation now.

Delhi's power demand has peaked on account of abnormal fall in the night temperature.

The peak demand conditions start at 6 am and lasts till 12 noon. Acute power shortage is faced around 10 am.