As power demand peaks, another 540MW private plant conks out

Patiala Even as power demand is at its peak due to the ongoing paddy season, another 540MW has gone out of the system with GVK thermal plant at Goindwal (Tarn Taran district) non-operational since midnight on Friday. Another 660MW generation facility at Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) has been non-operational since March.

Power engineers see this as yet another instance of the laxity of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in dealing with Independent Power Plants (IPPs). For the record, IIPs are now producing only 2,560MW of power against their installed capacity of 3,920MW.

“For the entire year, consumers bear the fixed cost expense of these plants for not drawing power.