By Y.S. RANA, Chandigarh, Nov 19 – The power shortage in Chandigarh seems to be a temporary phenomenon and residents will get relief from frequent power-cuts as the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has approved six more power purchase agreements executed between the Electricity Department, Union Territory, Chandigarh and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The approval will enable the electricity department to avail tentative allocation of 35 mw more power from 2014-15.
Disclosing this here on Friday, official of Chandigarh Administration said that the city would get power from six NTPC Plants. They are Lata Tapovan Hydro Plant (Uttrakhand); Singrauli Super Thermal Plant (U.P); Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Plant (Uttrakhand); Tanda Thermal Power Plant (U.P); Giddarbaha Thermal Power Plant (Punjab) and Meja Thermal Power Plant (U.P).
He further stated that initially the agreements have been signed for 25 to35 years which could be renewed on mutually agreement between the Chandigarh Administration and NTPC. “It is a step ahead in sizing up the every increasing power needs of the city over the next ten years,” said the official. The Chandigarh Administration is making arrangements for the supply of another 1,000 mws by 2018.
The approval will narrow down the gap between the demand and supply of power in the city. The gap has, of late, widened due to the increased consumption and reduced supply from various generating plants.
Chandigarh has no source of generation of its own but has firm commitment of supply between 265 to 302 mw of power per day. But the supply presently averages 270 mw and consumption touches to 320 mw during summer. The Administration purchased 12,436 LUs in 2005-06; 13,935 LUs in 2008-09 and buy more than 15,000 LUs at present.
At present, Chandigarh is getting 265.17 mw power from 24 power generating stations. On the contrary, the demand for power in UT has been increasing with passing of every year. The rise in demand for power has almost doubled as compared to six years ago. It was 150 mw in 2004 in creased to 279 mw in 2008-09 and has now increased to 320 mw, stated the official. He added that the per capita power consumption in Chandigarh was 1,500 units per day, almost double compared to the neighbouring States.