UPSEB strike: 180 arrested

LUCKNOW, FEB 9: Power generation was severely hit throughout Uttar Pradesh today as nearly one lakh State Electricity Board employees went on an indefinite strike from midnight. The government arrested 180 striking employees and deployed engineers from the army and NTPC to manage power supply.

quot;Power generation at Obra thermal plant has drastically declined from 540 MW to 40 MW, Anpara thermal plant was supplying 1360 MW as compared to its normal supply of 1560 MW and the 80 MW Pankhi plant in Kanpur has been closed down,quot; Principal Home Secretary Naresh Dayal told reporters here.

He said the effect of the strike, against the government8217;s move to trifurcate the UP State Electricity Board UPSEB and privatise some stations, on transmission and distribution was mixed8217; and efforts were being made to maintain normal supply by importing about 2000 MW from NTPC to meet the shortfall.