The state electricity board in Punjab announced that it would have to impose power cuts of at least two-three hours starting Tuesday evening as three private thermal plants have shut down and two electricity stations nearly running out of coal. Coal supplies to the power plants have been severely affected after the Railways suspended the operation of freight trains because of blockade of railway tracks by farmers.
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is imposing power cuts of 2-3 hours due to the mismatch between demand and supply. A Venu Prasad, Chairperson, PSPCL, said, “The power cuts will increase to four-five hours. The power situation is critical. We will impose three-hour power cuts today evening.”
GVK Power had announced that it would close down operations at 3 pm on Tuesday since coal stocks had completely run out. Two other private thermal plants Nabha Power at Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo in Mansa have already shut down due to coal shortage. The demand for electricity in the state currently stands at 6,000 megawatts against a supply of 5,000 MW from other central sectors, hydro and biomass, leading to a shortage of 1,000 MW.
The suspension of freight trains has not only hit the coal supplies for thermal power plants, but also adversely affected supply of fertilisers for Rabi crops and movement of foodgrain stocks. The non-operation of goods trains has also impacted the state industry as it was unable to get raw material and send finished goods.
