Nov. 7: The city was hit by powercuts in the evening as the ASEB failed to draw power from the Bongaigaon Thermal Power Station at Dhaligaon.

Sources said a technical snag in the 132-kV line at the Bongaigaon station led to the powercuts. Efforts are on to repair it. The ASEB takes 100 MW-110 MW power from the eastern grid for meeting the requirements of the city and some areas in Lower Assam.

“We have started taking power from Upper Assam to meet the requirements of Lower Assam,” a source said. The powercuts may continue tomorrow if the defect cannot be repaired.

The ASEB’s losses were estimated at Rs 622 crore in 2001-2002. Though it has a capacity of generating 575 MW, the board at present produces only 200 MW in contrast to the daily requirement of 570 MW at peak hours. Its transmission and distribution losses are estimated at 44 per cent.