Power load on south link cut

At present,the northern,western and eastern regions are integrally connected through strong AC transmission links

Bracing for Cyclone Phailin,the countrys grid managers have taken the precautionary step of curtailing power flows through the Talcher-Kolar transmission line,a crucial link between the countrys eastern and southern grids that passes along the eastern coastline.

The Talcher-Kolar HVDC link is a 1,450-km HVDC (high voltage direct current) transmission line running from Talcher in Orissa to Kolar in Karnataka,with a capacity of wheeling 2,500 MW of power. It is a conventional bipolar system with overhead lines for the high-voltage conductors and ground return for the neutral current.

As a precautionary measure,the load on the line (Talcher-Kolar) has been reduced, said a government official. The southern region has been told to make up for the shortfall by stepping up its own hydro generation and through thermal stations in the region.

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At present,the northern,western and eastern regions are integrally connected through strong AC (alternating current) transmission links and there is free flow of power between them. The southern region,though,is hooked up with the rest of the country through HVDC transmission links,which have constraints on wheeling capacity,thereby limiting the free flow of power.

Domestic and commercial electricity supplies in Gopalpur district in Orissa and Srikakukam in Andhra Pradesh have been curtailed,with only essential services being offered emergency supplies,to prevent possible short-circuits and other accidents.

Orissas cumulative load,which is around 3,000 MW,was curtailed to around 900 MW late Saturday evening.

On alert

Jharkhand

The Jharkhand government is bracing to evacuate people from low-lying areas of Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum districts. While the state is expected to receive heavy rainfall and strong winds over the next two days,the administration is concerned about districts close to the Orissa border. The areas along the banks of Subarnarekha in East Singhbhum and Kharkai in Seraikela-Kharsawan have been identified as most susceptible to floods. As of now,we are alerting people through public address systems. If need be,we will have to evacuate people from Gamharia block, said Seraikelas Deputy Development Commissioner Sangram Besra. ENS

Chhattisgarh

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The Chhattisgarh government has issued an alert to all its departments in view of the cyclone Phailin,which is likely to trigger heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the area between south Bastar and Raipur. The Met department said the state may receive heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. PTI

West bengal

THE West Bengal government deployed disaster management and civil defence personnel in the coastal areas of Digha,Shankarpur,Contai,Mandarmoni,Diamond Harbour and Sundarbans. PTI