Bhubaneswar, May 21: A severe power shortage has hit the state as production in almost all the hydropower stations has fallen drastically.

While the state’s requirement of power pegged around 3,300 megawatt (MW) during peak period, it can manage around 2,700MW from different sources.

Though from the hydropower sources the state can generate 1,500MW, its average production dropped to 94MW on Sunday. Now, the state is managing to get the rest of power from its central share, captive power plants and thermal power plants. However, the supply fluctuates from day to day, depending on the availability of power.

“The generation from hydropower units has come down drastically. Most of the reservoirs in southern Odisha such as Indravati, Upper Kolab and Machhkund remain half empty. Even the state’s dependence on the Hirakud, Chiplima and Rengali reservoirs suffered a severe jolt as depletion of water level has reduced power production in these reservoirs,” said a senior official of the energy department.

Director, Gridco (Commerce), P.K. Pradhan said: “We are managing 2700MW from different sources. Out of this, the state is getting 550MW from independent power producers (IPP), captive power plants (CPP) of various industries, 765MW from Ib Talcher, 950MW as central share, 25MW through power banking and rest from the existing hydro power stations. We are using our water resources intelligently keeping the scarcity in mind.”

With the temperature hovering around 43 degrees Celcius to 45 degrees Celcius, unscheduled power cuts have brought misery to people across the state.

Chief of the Central Electric Supply Utility B.C. Jena said: “We have deferred our decision to repair the power line by another week keeping in mind the ongoing heat wave.”

In Puri, the hoteliers have bought kerosene-run generator sets to run their business.

To overcome the power shortage, energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak called a meeting of all private players on Saturday and asked them to provide surplus power from their captive power plants.

Nayak said Sterlite had agreed to supply 250MW against its capacity of 600MW within the next three days. It had stopped supplying power following a technical snag developed in its captive power plant.

Similarly, Jindal Steel Power Limited has agreed to enhance its supply of power to 190MW, Nav Bharat, which now supplies 90MW, will provide an additional 64MW. Besides, Nalco, IMFA and Aarti have also agreed to continue their supply of power to the state.

“We will be able to overcome the power shortage shortly after we receive 400MW of power,” Nayak said, adding that the state was also in touch with the Andhra government to increase Odisha’s share of power being produced in the inter-state Machhkund hydropower station.

The power requirement will touch 4,000MW by the end of 2012 whereas it will go up to 6,000MW by 2017. After failing to set up the mega hydropower project in the state, the government now plans to set up mini-hydel power projects.

“We are in touch with the Water and Consultancy Services to get the necessary technical support. The institute will provide necessary consultation for preparing the design, technical study and feasibility report to make a detailed project report on the mini-hydel projects. The state-owned Grid Corporation of Odisha will purchase all the power to be generated from the mini-hydel projects,” said an official.