ROPAR: Punjab State Electricity Board is suffering a daily generation loss of 1.5 crores on account of closure of unit no. 3 of Ropar thermal plant since September 18.

According to sources the unit number 3 of thermal plant was closed after the seizure of turbine on September 18  and it would take approximately one more month to re-commission the unit again after the turbine is put in position .BHEL experts visited the thermal plant today and assessed the damage done to the turbine and other related equipments.

It is learnt that IP turbine is also to be overhauled besides HP turbine the module of which is being replaced already by the plant authorities. Besides the work on turbine some pending jobs on rotor would also be completed during this shut down.

The module of HP turbine is being dismantled these days and the spare HP turbine module would be put in its place. The unit had been taken on 40 days shutdown up to October 28.

According to sources the problem arose when with the false tripping of unit number 3 on September 18 the speed of turbine came to zero within 15 minutes. Normally the turbine continues to rotate at 200 RPM after tripping of unit. After bringing back the turbine on speed of 200 RPM the unit was lighted up for synchronization but at that time very high vibrations were observed and unit was closed down for checking.

According to sources turbine maintenance officials and operation officials were blaming each other for the problem. Initially it was thought that work would be completed with in few days but problem was not that simple. Now HP module of turbine is to be replaced and the whole work is likely to be completed by the end of this month.

Meanwhile R K Tewari President contract workers union had demanded an enquiry in to the whole episode where PSEB would be suffering loss of crores besides generation loss of 60 crores.