Udupi, March 10: Udupi district has been witnessing highest ever power cuts since a few days. On an average there is a power cut of 10 hours a day. Thanks to the protests against the coal based power project- UPCL.
According to the sources, officials in the KPTCL had been unofficially asked to maximize the power cut in the district to nib the protests against the coal based power plant, causing health and environmental hazards through its bottom ash and fly ash. And also through discharge of saline water through the open drains to the fields.
In fact Udupi district requires 160 to 180 MW of power to be distributed via Kemar power station. It includes distribution of power through double circuit Guruvayanakere sub station (26 MW), double circuit Manipal Sub Station (45 MW), double circuit Nandikoor Sub Station (12 MW), single circuit Moodabidri sub station (19 MW), single circuit Hiriadka sub station (42 MW) and a 12 MW power to the local requirement of Kemar.
Prior to UPCL (erstwhile Nagarjuna) power plant commissioned Udupi district used to draw electricity from the Varahi Hydel Power Plant. After the UPCL plant started producing power Udupi district has been drawing locally produced power. At present UPCL has been generating 550- 600 MW of power and only 150-160 MW are being distributed to the region. Rest of the power produced is being supplied to Shimoga station for their local use and rest to be connected to the main grid.
On Wednesday Udupi district was given only 80 MW of power, less than half of its requirement. On Thursday too power supplied to Udupi district was within 100 MW. Still disgusting is that there has been power cut every ulternative hour.
“Due to power cut every alternate hour neither the inverters function properly nor things stored in the refrigerators remain eatable, said Anjani Prabhu a housewife.
The problem of students preparing for examinations in general and SSLC exams in particular has also been worsened.
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