Goa unaffected despite power
failure
Sandesh Prabhudesai
31 July 2002
In spite of remaining cut off from
the western power grid for almost 18 hours unlike other
western states, activity in Goa could continue unaffected,
thanks to the increased allocation from the southern
grid.
"We would have been in real trouble
if the southern grid from Karnataka had not agreed to
increase our allocation in emergency situation", stated
R A Ghali, the chief electrical engineer.
Goa was equally affected last night
due to sudden collapse of power supply from the western
grid to the western states including Maharashtra and
Gujarat. The major NTPC power allocation for Goa comes
from this grid.
Goa draws almost 120 MW from the western
grid while only 85 MW is drawn from the southern grid,
besides purchasing around 35 MW from the local private
generator at exorbitant price. The total requirement
of the tourist state at peak hours is 240 MW.
After the western grid collapsed last
night at 8.15, the electricity department however immediately
put off all the high-tension feeders supplying power
to the steel rolling mills, consuming not less than
80 MW every day. Due to off-season, the big five star
hotels also came to the rescue, reducing the tension.
The real respite however was the southern
grid officials agreeing to increase the allocation to
almost 120 MW the whole night and then at 100 MW during
the daytime. Since Goa normally draws only 85 MW out
of allocated power of 100 MW, this could be possible,
said Ghali.
Goa had remained cut off from the western
grid even after power supply to most of the western
states was restored. The electricity department officials
here however were hopeful that normalcy would be restored
by 2 pm today.
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