New Delhi, Apr 11 (KNN)  The Centre has asked the UP government to provide detailed plans of how it intends to meet the state’s projected demand for power this summer, in view of the imminent shortage.
 
The Centre had however written to the state government in March, seeking to draw its attention to the looming power crisis.  The move was a result of a summer plan review meeting on March-17 during which the power ministry found a gap of up to 43 per cent in the projected demand and supply of the state, according to a media report.
 
Going by the figures available with the ministry, the projected demand in UP for the forthcoming summer of 2013-14 was 15,839 MW.  The shortage was estimated at 6,832 MW.
 
Consequently, the UP government was asked to submit a detailed report by April-15 of how it intends to meet the power demand of the state.  Particulars of load-shedding with feeder-wise and area wise details and respective relief in MW; action plan for corrective actions with regard to protection audit and other measures including third party audit, were required in the report.
 
On its part, the UP government, according to a media report has been in the process of finalising a power purchase tender of 1000 MW while trying to harness an additional 200 MW of power from within the state.  As for the night demand, it has organised 300 MW of power from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.
 
Currently, the power load restriction in UP is 2,200 MW.  In addition, there would be additional load shedding to ensure secure grid operations. 
 
Summer of 2012 saw a demand of 12,048 MW in UP; the government had to resort of load shedding to overcome the gap of almost 1,739 MW.  (KNN)