No improvement in West Bengal power situation before May-June

With West Bengal facing power crisis and no improvement expected in the situation till May-June this year, the state government today formed a committee which will coordinate with heads of various power plants and plug loopholes if any.

A committee was formed by Commerce and Industry minister Nirupam Sen, in-charge of power department, with representatives of Eastern and South Eastern railways, Coal India Limited and the state's power utilities.

Asked whether there was likelihood of any improvement in power situation, Sen said "I hope the power situation will look up in May-June, but the shortfall will remain."

The minister said that the situation would improve once hydel generation started with the advent of the monsoon and normal supply ensured from NTPC's fourth unit at Farakka.

"For fulfilling international commitment to Bangladesh, additional water is being given from Farakka causing lesser generation from the NTPC plant," Sen added.

He said that blame-game should stop and all agencies should cooperate in the task of improving the situation.

"We have already urged Centre to see if power from the central grid can be given to the West Bengal system," he said.

Sen said that the state government's target was to see that the main state generating utility PDCL could retain its 3,000 MW generation.