Power crisis grips twin dists

Expressbuzz, March 3, 2010
BALANGIR: Power crisis has gripped twin districts of Balangir and Kalahandi. While it has been acutely felt even before the onset of summer, the Wesco officials have only one answer to give - State Load Power Dispatch Centre (SLPDC) has restricted the supply since it has the key to directly control loads.


While Wesco has passed the buck to SLPDC saying it has nothing to do with power cuts, consumers are a confused lot. They wonder where they go from here. While Balangir requires 97 MW of power per day for supply to Balangir, Patnagarh and Sonepur, the SLPDC releases only 60 MW. Because of short supply, the local Wesco officials manage the load of 60 MW by resorting to frequent power cuts apart from two-hour scheduled load-shedding daily. “We don’t have other option but to manage the 60 MW in a day by regulating power. Since the power generation is centrally monitored at SLPDC, we have least control,” explained Executive Engineer, Wesco, Balangir, Arun Samantray.

Samantray said Balangir grid receives power from Kantapali grid whose capacity is 132 KV. Kantapali grid in turn taps power from IB thermal at Jharsuguda.

In Balangir, the Wesco cuts power one hour each in the morning and evening.

“The two-hour power cut is official, but unofficially, the town goes without power six hours a day. This has been going on for last ten days,” alleged Bhawani Shankar Satpathy, a member of Balangir Citizens’ Committee. He said this hampers the study of students, who are slated to take their examinations during March and April.

Similar is the situation in Kalahandi too. The district experiences frequent power cuts between 6 pm and 11 pm. The reason, official sources said, is overloading at Kesinga grid which has two feeders.

The available power at the grid is just the half of required power.

“We get 40 MV power from the grid, which has two feeders for supply to different areas. Belgaon, Titilagarh and Bhawanipatna town get the power from the two feeders,” said Executive Engineer, Wesco, A N Meher. He said 40 MW is insufficient but nothing can be done since the SLPDC now controls power generation. However, officially power cut is for 30 minutes each in the morning and the evening.