Friday, December 23 2005 14:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Timely handling of power tripping in Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir caused by pollution and fog early this morning by PowerGrid Corporation (PGCIL) today (Dec 23, 2005) averted a possible collapse of the Northern Grid and helped bring back normalcy in less than four hours.

"There was problem since this morning in Punjab, Chandigarh and Jammu-Kashmir forcing less drawal of power. Normalcy has been restored and state electricity boards have been asked to draw their normal power supply from the Grid," PGCIL CMD R P Singh told sources.

Speaking from the modernised Control Room of the Northern Grid, Singh said the 'localised' problem started in Punjab at 0650 hours leading to disturbances and tripping of lines in the state and caused some supply problems for Chandigarh and J&K.

"Normalcy was restored after 1000 hours," Singh said, adding that but for the modernisation of the Grid and deployment of latest technology the system could have collapsed four years ago.

Earlier at 0650 hours, the Grid operators reduced the power supply in Punjab as some lines were tripped due to dense fog and the smoke generated by burning of paddy waste in Patiala, Moga and nearby areas.

As soon as the problem was noticed, power supply to Punjab was brought down from over 900 MW to 300 hundred MW, while in case of Chandigarh, the supply was reduced to 22 MW from the stipuated 125 MW, PGCIL officials said. Terming the problem as 'localised' one, PGCIL CMD said the supply to Jammu and Kashmir came down to 350 MW from the normal position of 750 MW.

The situation has been brought to normal and all parts of the Northern region have been drawing normal power supply, Singh said.