Rain, snow to boost power generation

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22

Electricity generation in state-run hydropower projects is likely to increase after snowfall in higher reaches.

Power Department officials are hopeful about rise in electricity generation as silt in the Himalayan rivers and its tributaries will reduce in a day or two.

The demand and availability of electricity was 35.306 million units (mu) per day. The latest data compiled by the state Power Department highlights that the state-run hydropower projects contributed 8.529 MU, while the Bhilangna hydropower project generated 0.189 MU, Gama infra glass plant contributed 2.031 MU and solar power project contributed 0.0523 MU.

Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) received 13.551 MU from the central pool and 0.952 MU was under drawl to meet with the daily demand of electricity in the state. UPCL officials said electricity generation through the state-run hydropower projects had improved after rainfall, but it had become difficult for the department to meet with a daily demand of electricity in the state.

PC Dhyani, official spokesman for the UPCL, says the department is continuously procuring electricity to bridge the gap between demand and availability of electricity in the state. Technical staff of the Power Department have been instructed to remove snags at the earliest to avoid inconvenience to consumers across the state, he adds.

Meanwhile, several colonies faced power cut for nearly two to four hours due to maintenance works lined up by UPCL. The colonies or areas that faced the brunt of prolonged power cuts included Rajpur Road, EC Road, Subhash Road, Saket Colony, Arya Nagar, Karanpur, DL Road, Sewak Ashram road, Tapovan, Aamwala etc.

According to them, carrying maintenance works after inclement weather was a regular feature to ensure disruption-free electricity to domestic and commercial consumers in the state.