NEW DELHI, July 19:
Power Ministry is likely to order power generation firms to delay the annual maintenance work at their thermal plants as delayed monsoon is likely to compound electricity deficit by impacting hydro-power production.
“Usually this is the time (July-August) when thermal power plants go for maintenance … But in such conditions we have to postpone that… It can be postponed by 2-3 months,” Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in an interview.
He added, “So far there is not much impact on electricity generation, but yes delayed monsoon is a cause of worry, so we have to take care of the country by providing them electricity through thermal power.”
However, the ministry is yet to officially communicate it to the generation companies.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall was deficient by 25 per cent as on July 8, with 22 out of 36 regions experiencing below-normal rainfalls.
The Central Water Commission reported that water levels in the 84 reservoirs used for “storage” are below normal.
As per latest Central Electricity Authority data (July 17), the reservoir level of Bhakra Nangal Dam, one of country’s largest dams, stood at 473 metres as against its full capacity of 513 metres.
Similar is the plight of about 30 dams in the country. The reservoir level of Tehri dam in Uttarkhand was 761 metres as against its full capacity of 830 metres, the data said.
The reservoir level of Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat was 114 metres compared to its full level of 139 metres and that of Nagarjun Sagar dam in Andhra Pradesh was 155 metres, as compared to its full reservoir level of 180 metres.
State-run hydro power generation company NHPC, which currently generates over 5,000 MW of electricity plans to commission 1,200 MW of capacity during the current financial year, including spill-over from the last fiscal.
Over 21,000 MW capacity of the company is under various stages of implementation, according to its website.
The company plans to double its existing capacity by 2017. Out of the 10 projects, three are coming up in Himachal Pradesh, four in Jammu & Kashmir, one in Arunachal Pradesh and two in West Bengal.
The Power Ministry has set a target of adding 88,000 MW in the next five years, from all sources of energy. (PTI)
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