Port Blair, Apr 08: The Principal Secretary (Power) of A & N Administration, Mr. Jalaj Srivastava today sought public cooperation to help the Administration by using power economically, and stop indiscriminate use of energy-intensive equipments as was done in last 48 hrs.
With this, he said that the Administration can contain the evening peak and totally avoid power shut down even by 45 minutes as was anticipated on 6th April, 2013.
“We have earlier shared with the General Public that M/s Suryachakra Power Corporation Pvt Ltd., Bambooflat is supplying only 5 MW Power (out of 20 MW DG sets) w.e.f 06.04.2013 due to the recent shutting down of another 10 MW capacity DG sets as they could not undertake timely overhauling of their DG Sets,” the Principal Secretary (Power) said.
He added that the Electricity Department has tried to minimize the impact of this shortage and consequently, Board examinations have been completed without a single minute of power cut, for which the Administration expresses gratitude to the general public for cooperating with the Department and economizing their electricity consumption during February – March, 2013. Further, 5 MW Solar Power Plant at Garacharma was commissioned on 30.03.2013 and is delivering about 3 MW which can save Diesel in day time and fully meet daytime peak, without any interruption.
The Secretary added that M/s Sudhir Ready are under contract to supply 10 MW, however they are supplying 13 MW on Administration’s request to tide over the present crisis. Also, M/s New Bharat Engineering Company with 5 MW Power Generation, due to some fund constraint could only supply 2.3 MW power during the entire past 12 months, and has totally shut down on 8.2.2013.
However, Administration with the approval of Lt. Governor has advanced sufficient Lube Oil to them to deliver 2.5 MW for continued power supply.
“We expect that in any case, no power cuts would be needed after about a fortnight as the existing supply from Chatham Power house will be increased from 7 MW to 9 MW and another 1 MW at Phoenix Bay Power House by mid-May 2013. As regards payment of dues of M/s Suryachakra Power Corporation Pvt. Ltd, the Administration is waiting for the final orders of JERC on the completed cost and fund tie-up fixation, and it would be premature to comment as certain matters are subjudice,” he added.
