Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Faced with an acute shortage of electricity in the state, Odisha government today asked the Centre to restore 500 mw earlier surrendered by the state from its allocated share to the central pool.

"We are not seeking any favour from the Centre. But the state wants restoration of 500 mw surrendered by it earlier," Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) CMD Hemant Sharma said. Though the state used to avail 500 MW of power from hydel sector, there is drastic fall in the power generation.

"The generation from hydel sector has come down to about 250 mw," he said. The power crisis in the state became acute as it received only 530 mw from the central pool against usual drawal of 780 mw, he said. NTPC`s units at Kanhia, Tahalgaon, Farka and Teesta supplies about 250 mw less than the usual supply to the state, the Gridco CMD said.

"We had surrendered 500 MW of power to the central pool as electricity demand was less in the state during that period of time," the official said. As the demand for power had increased over the years, it would be helpful for the state if the centre restores the state`s allocated share from the central pool, he pointed out. The state was experiencing shortage of thermal power due to non-availability of coal at different thermal power units, he said.

However, the captive power plants (CPPs) set up by industries have come to the resuce of the state. While the CPPs used to supply 350 MW of power to the state, they are now contributing about 600 MW of power, Sharma said.

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