Jharkhand: Tremors in Ramgarh as Patratu power station partially demolished using controlled explosion

Several parts of the Patratu Thermal Power Station in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district, were demolished on Saturday. A marker of good relations between India and USSR back in 1960s and 70s, the power station is all set to be replaced by the supercritical thermal power plant being set up by PVUNL.

Ramgarh: Sharp tremors rocked Ramgarh in Jharkhand on Saturday as the Main Power House, the old cooling tower, and two chimneys of the PTPS (Patratu Thermal Power Station) were demolished in a controlled explosion. The blast led to a cloud of smoke engulfing nearby areas, alarming locals. The blast was undertaken as part of the construction of a new, supercritical thermal power plant in Patratu being set up by the PVUNL (Patratu Vidyut Utpadam Nigam Limited).

The thermal power station was built as a symbol of friendly relations between India and USSR in 1977-78 in collaboration with BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited). The twin chimneys, on the other hand, had been constructed between 1965 and 1968.

The destruction marks the end of an era, with the currently under-construction Super Thermal Power Plant project, undertaken by NTPC, set to take its place. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi having laid its foundation stone in May, 2018, the first phase of the new project is estimated to cost around Rs 18,000 crore. The plant, once functional, will be able to supply 2,400 Mw (Megawatt) of power.