Two RTPS units closed

Units one and four of the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) stopped production on Tuesday, following technical glitches.

Repair works have been taken up in the two units. While unit one is expected to resume generation on Tuesday night, unit four will restart generation on Wednesday, RTPS officials told Deccan Herald.

With two of the seven units, of 210 megawatt (MW) capacity each, currently generating power at the station going off steam, there is a production deficit of 420 MW at the plant. The other five units are together producing 900 MW.

Poor quality of coal supplied to RTPS, short circuit in the boiler and other problems are responsible for the dip in production. The RTPS has reserves of 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of coal, sources said.

CM’s promise

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has said that steps will be taken to ensure that there is adequate supply of power, especially for the convenience of students preparing for exams, reports DHNS from Koppal and Gulbarga.

He said the State had entered into power purchase agreements with other states as well as private companies to tide over the crisis. Shettar said power production had been hit because of the low water level in the reservoirs that generate electricity.
The Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), which was expected to generate 1200 MW, was generating only 700 MW and the RTPS was facing a number of technical problems. The generation at hydel reservoir has been very poor due to depletion of water, Shettar said at Jewargi.