Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: People of Odisha heaved a sigh of relief following restoration of power supply in the entire state last night.

The state, however, is still facing a shortfall of around 200MW because of problem in power transmission from the eastern grid. “Power supply has been restored all over the state since last night. But, we are deprived from getting around 200MW from the eastern grid as the transmission system is not ready to draw the entire power quota,” state’s energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told The Telegraph.

The state gets 800MW to 1,000MW from the eastern grid. But now, around 600MW to 700MW were available from the grid, he said.

At present, the state is facing a total shortfall of 500MW. It was getting around 2,800MW (800MW hydro and 2,000MW thermal) power from all sources, including the central grid (600MW to 700MW), against the peak demand of 3,300MW, said Gridco sources.

“We are trying to meet the shortfall from our sources, though the reservoir position is not satisfactory except Hirakud,” said Nayak.

The water level at Indravati, Machhkund, Balimela and Upper Kolab reservoirs was not satisfactory because of lack of rainfall in southern Odisha, he said.

Sources in the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) said the reservoirs in the southern region were not being filled up adequately for the past three years because of poor rainfall. This has affected the hydro-power generation badly.

“Normally, we depend on Indravati and Balimela reservoirs, which generate 400MW to 500MW and 200MW to 300MW, respectively. But, we are not able to achieve the usual generation level,” said an OHPC official.

Only the Hirakud reservoir’s level is same as the ideal position of 608.29ft. However, only 100MW to 200MW were being generated from Burla hydro-power station, said the OHPC sources.

On the thermal front, the state is also facing some difficulties.

The two thermal units run at Ib valley by the Odisha Power Generation Corporation were shut down recently because of technical snags.

Besides, since past 15 to 20 days, the state had been getting around 200MW to 250MW, less from its share from the units run by the National Thermal Power Corporation, because of coal scarcity, said an energy department official.