INDIA: Power situation in Gujarat worsens

The power situation in Gujarat has worsened due to non availibility of about 1,000 Mega Watt generation of power from several private sector owned captive power generating units and non availibility of 208 MW unallocated share of power from the central sector units.

"It has resulted into restrictions on use of power and about two lakhs non continuous industries across the Gujarat being asked to observe one additional weekly holiday from April 23," official sources said, adding it is in addition to one staggered weekly holiday being observed by them.

The private sector owned captive power generating units have started drawing power from the grid of the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL), a state govt owned agency, for meeting their power requirements, sources said. "They do so because they get power from GUVNL in cheaper rates than power generated by their captive units."

These private sector owned units have to use constlier fuels for generation of power which is a costlier proposition for them, he said. The totalled installed capacity of captive generating units in the state is around 3,000 Mega Watt of power, these units have been generating less power because of high cost of fuels.

They generate power at lesser capacity for meeting their own requirements of power and shortfall from generation of power is being made through withdrawal of power from guvnl grid. When asked, the Gujarat state power and petrochemical minister Sauabh Patel said the state government is taking actions asking these private sector owned captive generating units to increase generation of power from their units.

Baja