Electricity generation drops by over 75%

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 5

Power generation has dropped by over 75 to 80 per cent due to a fall in the discharge of water into rivers. Almost all water sources have frozen as intense cold wave is sweeping the region.

The state is procuring power through banking and bilateral arrangements with the neighbouring states to meet the domestic demand of all categories of consumers.

According to the Directorate of Energy, three-month data from November to January 3 shows a decrease of 12.3 lakh units this year as compared to the production in 2018-19.

“In the first three days of 2020, the generation of electricity has shown a marginal decrease of 2.62 per cent, while there was an increase of 4.74 per

cent in December as compared to 2018-19,” the sources said.

The state generated 323.68 million units in November and December (2019) and till January 3 (2020), whereas the generation was 324.91 million units in 2018-19.

“The discharge in the Sutlej has shrunk to a dismal 80 cusecs. Same is the case with the Chenab, the Beas and the Ravi and their tributaries,” said power projects engineers. “There is no significant drop in the production of electricity in power projects as compared to last year,” said Director, Directorate of Energy, Manasi Sahay Thakur.

Sunil Grover, managing director, Himachal Pradesh Area Load Dispatch Centre, which is responsible for the distribution of energy in the state, said Himachal had made bilateral and

banking arrangements with the other states to meet the demand.

Dr Manmohan, Director, MeT office, Shimla said the melting of the upper layer of snow had slowed down due to the freezing temperature. “The discharge into rivers decrease drastically in the winter months,” he added. 

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