Commonwealth Games 2010: Power ministry claims to be ready

Apprehensions to the contrary expressed by various quarters notwithstanding, the Ministry of Power (MoP) is seemingly positive about being able to adequately cater to the steep power demands of the NCR during the Commonwealth Games 2010. It has been assessed that demand will peak at 4,451 MW during the Games in October, a growth of 11.8% over the peak demand of 3980 MW seen in October 2009. The power ministry has charted out the following plan that it hopes will ensure smooth power supplies to the capital:

 Projects already commissioned or at an advance stage of development to cater to Games:

 -- Two units of Dadri thermal power station (TPS) worth 980 MW which had been commissioned in January and July, 2010 respectively.

 -- One 500 MW unit of Indira Gandhi TPS which is expected to be operational by end of September.

 -- Two units of 250 MW each of Pragati-III (Bawana), which are likely to be made available by BHEL on best effort basis.

 -- 100 MW of power is also expected from  the Rithala combined cycle power plant (CCPP) by end of September, 2010.

 Power approved for Delhi under short-term open access (STOA):

 -- 1st to 10th October, 2010: 500 to 540 MW 

 -- 11th to 15th October 2010: 400 to 444 MW

 -- 16th October, 2010: 100 to 144 MW

 -- 17th to 30th October, 2010: 100 MW

 To cover any unlikely shortfall, the Delhi government has also requested Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to ask distribution companies to arrange for additional power during the first fortnight of October.