Kanti plant resumes power generation

PATNA: There is some respite from the ongoing power crisis in Bihar following the resumption of power generation from Kanti thermal power plant in Muzaffarpur after a lapse of nearly a year. At present, Kanti power plant is generating nearly 85 MW of power.

In view of the ensuing famous Chhath festival, if need be the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) is prepared to purchase additional power at higher rates under the exchange of power.

Although National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plant at Farakka (unit-5) has developed snag in its turbine, it is likely to generate power soon. Bihar's allocation from Farakka plant is nearly 100 MW, said BSEB spokesman S K Ghosh.

Kanti thermal power plant is a now joint venture company of the NTPC. It has also been renamed as Kanti Vidyut Utpadan Nigam. Bihar's another thermal power plant at Barauni is not operational since long. It is not likely to generate power by November, Ghosh said. With the onset of winter, the demand has decreased considerably during night.

"We have made all the necessary arrangements for the forthcoming Diwali and Chhath festival. If the situation arises we will purchase power at higher rates during the festival to meet the demand," said Ghosh.

During the period from January to October 16, 2008, the BSEB has drawn extra power at a cost of Rs 32.64 crore under exchange of power. In 2007, too, the BSEB had to buy extra power at higher rates to the tune of Rs 48.48 crore to meet the demand during festival. In addition to this, power worth Rs 15.64 crore was purchased from Kerala at much higher rate to meet demands during festivals last year, said the BSEB spokesman.

But this time, BSEB had to buy extra power with a caution. Otherwise it will have to incur huge fine.

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has already warned the state power boards not to indulge in grid indiscipline. The commission, in its order dated October 16, has directed the regional load dispatch centres (RLDC) to report within a period of three days the cases of overdrawls from the grid by the state power boards when the frequency is less than 49.0

It has also directed the RLDCs to report within three days every case of non-compliance of the directions of these centres. The commission has felt the necessity of these measures for taking appropriate legal action against the defaulters, with the objective of saving the grid from any untoward happening.

Under the provisions of the Electricity Act, a penalty of up to Rs 15 lakh can be imposed for non-compliance of the directions of the RLDCs, said secretary Alok Kumar.