CHANDIGARH: Punjab State Electricity Board has imposed power cuts in Punjab after a gap of a month, as the power demand rose to 1749 lakh units and the power shortage increased to  263 lakh units Power cuts for more than 5 hours has been imposed urban and rural areas of the state as the power supply in the state was 1485 lakh units against demand of1749 lakh units.

PSEB was generating 625 lakh units from its own sources. The thermal generation in the state was 378 lakh units and hydro generation was 247 lakh units.

According to official sources the closure of unit no. 2 and 3 of  Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant for three days has resulted in the reduced availability of power from thermal plants. 250 Mw Unit no 3 of Lehra Mohabatt has been closed for boiler drum leakage .While 210 Mw unit no. 2 has been closed due to coal feeding problems. Both the units are likely to available on August 29.

PSEB drew 860 lakh units from central units against schedule of 828 lakh units .Even today PSEB was drawing 3575 MW against schedule of 3474 MW.

Meanwhile the water level in Bhakra and Pong Dam reservoirs was at 1674 feet and 1384 feet respectively. The water levels are 6 feet below the maximum permissible limits of 1680 feet and 1390 feet for Bhakra and Pong Dam respectively. The generation from BBMB power houses was 588 lakh units.

In the adjoining Haryana power position was slightly better. The power shortage in Haryana was 99 lakh units and power cuts ranged from 4 to 6 hours. The power supply in the state was 925 lakh units against demand of 1024 lakh units.