Power supply in Punjab to be hit as all units of Bathinda thermal plant shut
Three units of the power plant were already out of service, and the fourth unit was shut down on Sunday because of a large build-up of fly ash.
PTC News Desk: All four units of the 920-MW Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant have been shut down, causing concerns about electricity supply in Punjab during the peak paddy sowing season and the ongoing summer heat.
Three units of the power plant were already out of service, and the fourth unit was shut down on Sunday because of a large build-up of fly ash.
The situation has become more serious as around 1,800 contract workers at the plant are currently on strike. After all four units stopped functioning, the plant management requested additional workers to help remove the accumulated fly ash and restart operations.
According to sources, the thermal plant has nearly 500 permanent employees, but about half of them are involved in office and administrative work rather than technical operations.
The shutdown of the entire plant has raised concerns about maintaining adequate power generation at a time when electricity demand is high due to agricultural activities and extreme temperatures.