Rajasthan power crisis worsens

  • 11/03/2008

  • Hindu

The recent tripping of power supply lines of the Northern Grid has aggravated the shortage of electricity in Rajasthan, which is facing a paucity of 1.5 crore units a day against the demand for 11.2 crore units. Electric supply to Bhiwadi industrial area in Alwar district has been badly affected by the power crisis. A spokesperson of Rajasthan Vidyut Prasaran Nigam said here on Monday that the State was not getting electricity under the power purchase agreements with other States after the Northern Grid's frequency declined to below 49 Hertz for 19 hours on Saturday. On the other hand, the demand in the agriculture sector is constantly on the rise. An unusual fog in parts of Alwar and Bharatpur districts led to prolonged power cuts, while the supply to Bhiwadi industrial areas was partially restored late on Sunday night. The public sector power distribution companies in the State are finding it difficult to meet the demand of domestic consumers as well. The spokesperson said major Central power houses such as Singrauli and Rihand had cut production by 1,500 MW.