Horoscope Today
Opinion Poll
Bhubaneswar (Orissa) : First timer Orissa Energy Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak might not aware about plans of another first timer, Pratap Jena, State’s School and Mass Education Minister.
So, Jena announced to hold the Matriculation Examination from March 12 while Nayak issued a fatwa by asking his mandarins to cut power for two hours in urban areas and four in rural areas.
With this, some five lakh students preparing for the crucial examination are facing the heat of power cut.
Mostly students in rural areas were the worst sufferer. Opposition Congress, BJP, Samruddha Odisha and other outfits like Kalinga Sena and Odisha Loka Dal have opposed the move.
The State is witnessing a shortfall of nearly 700 MW of power every day due to depleting hydro and thermal power generation in the state.
The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Authority (OERC) has allowed the Grid Corporation (GRIDCO) and four private distribution companies to go for regulation of power.
The power supply situation in Orissa has been passing through a very critical stage with the hydro reservoirs, the backbone of the power supply system in the state, and thermal power stations not being able to deliver their full potential due to various factors.
Official sources said as against the demand of 3100 MW of power, the state was able to meet only 2560 due to non-availability of coal for the thermal power plants and depleting water position in all the reservoirs generating hydel power.
As against the generation capacity of 2085 MW of power from the hydel units, Orissa is presently generating a mere 60 MW of power, while generation from the thermal units stood at 600 MW against the generation capacity of 880 MW.
The OERC in its order has asked the distribution companies to provide prior notice to the consumers on the duration and timing of the power cut in their respective areas.
As per the order, there will be two hours power cut in the capital city and district headquarters, one hour during the morning and one hour in the evening. The rural areas will have four hours power cut, two hours each during morning and evening.
The industries will have to bear at least 25 per cent restriction of power.
