UPPCL gears up to provide uninterrupted power during Ramazan in Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow, Jul 20 : Amid frequent protests by angry denizens against errant power supply across the state, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) is gearing up to ensure uninterrupted supply during Ramzan month by purchasing additional power from energy exchange and private trading companies.
Following an assessment of required additional electricity for month-long supply in areas of sizeable Muslim population between 1800 hrs to 2200 hrs and from 0300 to 0600 hrs, UPPCL management has moved a proposal to the state government for release of money for electricity purchase.
According to sources in state administration, the power corporation has requested for release of Rs 236 crore to purchase additional power from the central energy exchange and power surplus states in northern region.
With Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) mounting pressure for payment of the cost of power overdrawn earlier from central grid, the power corporation is also trying to get loan from banks and other financial institutions.
The power corporation sources said, about Rs 1500 crore were outstanding for the electricity overdrawn through Unscheduled Interchange (UI) in current fiscal. The payment of previous outstanding amount would ease the conditions for further purchase of additional power from central energy exchange.
Only after release of money from government, the power corporation may consider purchasing electricity from power surplus Himachal Pradesh, which has declined selling power to UP since its Rs 84 crore for the power purchased during previous summer was still lying unpaid, the sources said.
Currently with importing of 4500 megawatt from central sector, the power corporation was supplying average 9500-10000 Mw electricity in the state which was proving to be quite insufficient in view of demand rising up to 1200-1250 Mw.
In the month of Ramzan, there would be immense pressure on power corporation for uninterrupted supply during morning and evening hours as unscheduled outages could trigger protests in Muslim populated localities.