Water Crisis Hits Farakka Plant, Stops Power Generation

Murshidabad: Deteriorating water crisis has forced the 2,100 MW Farakka plant of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district to come to a standstill on Sunday as it had to stop generation in its sole running unit.

Unprecedented fall in the water level in the feeder canal has been rooted as the cause for this downfall. NTPC said the generation from all the six units had to be suspended owing to the non-availability of cooling water which has endangered the life of critical equipment at the plant.

In an official announcement made by the company, it said: “The availability of water from Farakka Feeder Canal to the 2,100 MW Farakka Plant further declined today (Sunday), compelling authorities to switch off the lone generating 500 MW sixth unit. With this, generation at Farakka has come to a standstill.” "Concurrently, drinking water facilities within the plant and as well as townships have also gone dry. The matter has been duly communicated to the higher officials," it further added.

Since the entire town as well as the plant and office solely depend on the canal for domestic and potable water, its depleted level has severely hit drinking water supply. The water shortage has compelled the fire tenders to supply water for domestic use to residents.

NTPC is an Indian Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities. The Farakka Super Power Thermal Station is one of the 25 coal-based thermal power plants set up by NTPC around the country.