Bangalore, April 24, 2012, DHNS:
Faced with a power shortage of 840 megawatts (MW), the energy crisis in the State is likely to worsen in the coming summer days if the dependency on hydel power stations continues for long.
The current demand of 160 million units (mu) has left a peak load gap of about 15 mu, thanks to the water supply crisis at the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS).
The State’s hydel power plants are in full swing to meet the shortage, contributing 52.44 mu, which is nearly 45 per cent of the current total power demand.
Experts feel that this scenario might prove detrimental to the State in the long run.
“We have been receiving weather reports of poor rainfall during this year. If the power situation continues in the similar manner, there might be a severe crisis,” said an official. Officials at RTPS, whose four units each with a capacity of 210 mw have shut down, claimed it would resume functioning by Wednesday evening with water released from the Narayanapura dam.
But department sources feel the water might not reach the well of RTPS as farmers might divert it to their farms adjoining the river.
“There is very little water in the dam. The problem may persist until the arrival of monsoon,” said an official. |