Ntpc'S Farakka Townships Face Blackout

The twin National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) townships at the Farakka power station have been asked by the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) to clear the Rs 8- lakh arrears or face disconnection.

NTPC, which shut down the Farakka power plant and suspended supply to WBSEB for non-payment of dues, has defaulted in clearing the state's bills at Farakka.

The board, writing to 400 defaulting consumers, has decided to disconnect supply to all the offenders, barring the police and hospitals.

Though the notice urges defaulters to pay up at least 50 per cent of the arrears immediately, the convention is to give 15 days time before disconnecting. In that case, the board cannot go for large- scale disconnection before the end of October.

 

Though CESC has promised to make an additional payment of Rs 10 crore this week and follow it up with another payment next week, this will fall far short of the Rs 50 crore which WBSEB proposes to pay to start dialogue with NTPC for resumption of supply.

The Indian Air Force airbase at Kalaikunda has run up arrears of Rs 1.2 crore while the Panagarh airfeld's arrear is nearly Rs 50 lakh.

The airstrip at Shalua has an outstanding of Rs 27 lakh, Hashimara airbase Rs 16 lakh and the Khaprail Army base in Siliguri has an arrear of Rs 1 lakh.

Police has not paid Rs 4.9 crore and may still escape disconnection.

Hospitals and health centres under the state health department have arrears of Rs 1.66 crore.

Two waterworks at Kalyaneswari and Kalajharia have arrears of Rs 2.45 crore and Rs 2.27 crore, respectively. Various state government offices have not paid Rs 3.46 crore.

Municipalities have Rs 15 crore arrear while panchayats and universities have not paid Rs 16.3 crore. Authorities expected the power situation improve further. With the temperatures dropping, demand has started falling in North Bengal. On the other hand, additional 25 mw of hydel power will be available during peak hours from Rammam and Teesta Canal Fall units.

DVC will provide another 200 mw from its Durgapur and Chandrapura stations from today.

If more generation is available and the weather changes bring down demand, the peak hour shortfall will vanish by next week, officials said.