Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) The Power Ministry at a meeting with eight northern states Monday resolved to put in place necessary defence plans and protection systems to ensure integrated operations of the national and regional transmission grids, Power Minister M. Veerappa Moily announced here.

The eight northern states — which include Delhi and Rajasthan — and Chandigarh also approved 12 resolutions designed to prevent recurrence of grid failures like the one experienced last week that affected half of the country’s population.

“The 12 resolutions approved are milestones in the history of the national and state grid systems. These are for adequate defence plans and protection systems to ensure integrated operations of the national and regional grids in adherence with the Indian Electricity Grid Code,” Moily said.

It was agreed to have independent third party audit of the protection systems for power grids within three months. The process is to be monitored by regional power committees.

Among the other proposals approved is improving power grid discipline which, in effect, would mean that states will not overdraw their quota of power from the grid.

The minister apprised media persons that the committee set up to report on the power grid failures of last week would submit its report by Aug 16.

According to the minister, 70,000 megawatt of power transmission capacity had been added in the five years upto 2012 and a further 85,000 megawatt power capacity was being aimed at up to 2017.

“On Saturday I visited the National Load Despatch Centre for a three-and-half hour brainstorming session on the basis of which I can confidently repeat that what happened (the country’s largest blackout) will not recur again,” Moily said.